hammer1 nounhammer2 verb
hammerham‧mer1 /ˈhæmə $ -ər/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINhammer1
Origin:
Old English hamorEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Any friction at the hammer pivot will slow down the movement of the hammer, tending to make the action sluggish.
- John Henry threw his hammer and snuffed out the fuse.
- Milk, two ice cubes crushed with a hammer between two squares of paper towel, and Maalox.
- Now move the wooden handle of the hammer gradually over the edge of the table.
- The hammers in Stein's vis-à-vis piano action point away from the player.
- The hammers in Streicher's down-striking action point towards the player.
- The Plot John Henry was born with a hammer in his hand and was the strongest baby anybody had ever seen.
Longman Language Activatorto sell something to the person who offers the most money
also auction off · One of the Beatles' guitars is being auctioned for charity.· The contents of the house were auctioned to pay off the family's debts.
a public meeting at which things are sold to the person who offers to pay the most money: · The buyer did not attend the auction, but sent a representative to place the bids.hold an auction: · Sotheby's decided to hold auctions in Japan twice a year.at (an) auction: · Bikes that have not been claimed by the owners will be sold at a public auction January 11.· How much do you think the painting would fetch at auction?
to arrange for something be sold at a public meeting to the person who offers to pay the most money: · After months trying to sell the farm, they decided to put it up for auction.· One of the world's finest collections of vintage cars is to be put up for auction.
informal if something comes or goes under the hammer , especially something valuable such as a famous painting, it is sold at an auction: · A collection of prints and paintings by Picasso came under the hammer at Sotheby's yesterday.
WORD SETSAB, nounabdomen, nounaccommodation, nounAchilles tendon, nounAdam's apple, nounadaptation, nounadenoids, nounadrenalin, nounairway, nounambidextrous, adjectiveanatomical, adjectiveankle, nounantibody, nounantigen, nounanus, nounanvil, nounaorta, nounappendix, nounarch, nounarmpit, nounarterial, adjectiveartery, nounatrium, nounbaby tooth, nounback, nounbackbone, nounbandy, adjectivebarrel-chested, adjectivebeat, verbbelly, nounbelly button, nounbicep, nounbig toe, nounbikini line, nounbile, nounbiological clock, nounbiorhythms, nounbiped, nounbladder, nounblind spot, nounblink, verbblink, nounblood count, nounblood group, nounblood pressure, nounbloodstream, nounblood type, nounblood vessel, nounBO, nounbody clock, nounbody odour, nounbone, nounbone marrow, nounbowel, nounbow legs, nounbrain, nounbrainwave, nounbreast, nounbreastbone, nounbristly, adjectivebronchial, adjectivebronchial tube, nounbrow, nounbuck teeth, nounbullnecked, adjectiveburp, verbbust, nounbuttock, nouncanine, nouncapillary, nouncardiac, adjectivecardio-, prefixcardiovascular, adjectivecarotid artery, nouncartilage, nouncentral nervous system, nouncerebellum, nouncerebral, adjectivecervical, adjectivecervix, nounchamber, nounchange of life, nouncheek, nouncheekbone, nounchest, nounchin, nouncirculation, nounclavicle, nouncleavage, nounclitoris, nounclose-set, adjectivecoccyx, nouncochlea, nouncock, nouncollarbone, nouncolon, nouncolour, nouncolour-blind, adjectiveconception, nouncone, nounconnective tissue, nouncoordination, nouncornea, nouncortex, nouncough, verbcough, nouncowlick, nouncranium, nouncrook, verbcrotch, nouncrow's feet, nouncrutch, nouncry, verbcuticle, noundandruff, noundeep-set, adjectivedefecate, verbdefence mechanism, noundental, adjectivedentine, nounderrière, noundiaphragm, noundigit, noundigital, adjectivedimple, noundisc, noundominant, adjectivedouble-jointed, adjectivedribble, verbdrool, verbduct, nounduodenum, nounear, nouneardrum, nounearhole, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbelbow, nounenamel, nounendocrine, adjectiveentrails, nounepidermis, nounepiglottis, nounerect, adjectiveerection, nounerogenous zone, nounexcrement, nounexcreta, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexpectorate, verbextremity, nouneye, nouneyebrow, nouneyelash, nouneyelid, nouneyesight, nouneye tooth, nounface, nounfallopian tube, nounfart, verbfart, nounfemur, nounfibre, nounfibula, nounfigure, nounfingernail, nounfingertip, nounfist, nounfive o'clock shadow, nounflat-chested, adjectivefoetal position, nounfolic acid, nounfollicle, nounforearm, nounforefinger, nounforehead, nounforeskin, nounframe, nounfunny bone, noungall bladder, noungallstone, noungastric, adjectivegenital, adjectivegenitals, noungland, nounglottis, noungonad, noungrey matter, noungroin, nounG-spot, noungullet, noungum, nounhair, nounhairless, adjectivehairy, adjectivehammer, nounhamstring, nounhand, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandlebar moustache, nounhead, nounheart, nounheel, nounhiccup, nounhiccup, verbhip, nounHomo sapiens, nounhumerus, nounhymen, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nouninbred, adjectiveincisor, nounindex finger, nouninherit, verbinstep, nounintestine, nounin vitro fertilization, nouniris, nounIVF, nounjaw, nounjawbone, nounjowl, nounkidney, nounknee, nounknee cap, nounknuckle, nounlap, nounlarge intestine, nounlarynx, nounlash, nounlaugh lines, nounlaughter lines, nounleft-handed, adjectivelefty, nounlens, nounlid, nounlifeblood, nounligament, nounlip, nounlittle finger, nounliver, nounlobe, nounlong-sighted, adjectivelumbar, adjectivelung, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmammary, adjectivemammary gland, nounmanual, adjectivemarrow, nounmasticate, verbmatrix, nounmelanin, nounmelatonin, nounmember, nounmenopause, nounmenses, nounmenstrual, adjectivemenstrual period, nounmenstruate, verbmiddle ear, nounmiddle finger, nounmidget, nounmidriff, nounmilk tooth, nounmind, nounmolar, nounmucous membrane, nounmuscle, nounnail, nounnape, nounnasal, adjectivenavel, nounnervous, adjectiveneurology, nounneuron, nounniacin, nounnipple, nounnode, nounnodule, nounnostril, nounocular, adjectiveoesophagus, nounoral, adjectiveovary, nounoverbite, nounoviduct, nounpalate, nounpalm, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpancreas, nounpassage, nounpatella, nounpectorals, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenetrate, verbpepsin, nounperiod, nounperiod pain, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphallus, nounpharynx, nounphlegm, nounphysical, adjectivephysiognomy, nounphysiology, nounphysique, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepit, nounpituitary, nounplacenta, nounplasma, nounplatelet, nounpore, nounpotbelly, nounpremenstrual, adjectiveprepubescent, adjectivepressure point, nounprimal, adjectiveprivate parts, nounprognathous, adjectiveprostate, nounpuberty, nounpubescent, adjectivepubic, adjectivepudendum, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulse, nounpupil, nounquad, nounquadruplet, nounquin, nounquintuplet, nounradius, nounreceptor, nounrecessive, adjectiverectal, adjectiverectum, nounred blood cell, nounREM sleep, nounrenal, adjectiveretina, nounRhesus factor, nounRH factor, nounrib, nounrib cage, nounright, adjectiveright-handed, adjectiveright-hander, nounrigor mortis, nounring finger, nounrod, nounRoman nose, nounround-shouldered, adjectiverun, verbsalivary gland, nounsallow, adjectivescalp, nounscaly, adjectivescapula, nounsciatic, adjectivescrotum, nounsemen, nounseminal, adjectivesense, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectivesextuplet, nounshank, nounshin, nounshinbone, nounshoulder, nounshoulder blade, nounside, nounsinew, nounsinus, nounskeletal, adjectiveskull, nounsleep, verbsleep, nounsmall intestine, nounsneeze, verbsneeze, nounsnub nose, nounsnub-nosed, adjectivesoft palate, nounsolar plexus, nounsole, nounsphincter, nounspinal, adjectivespinal column, nounspine, nounspit, verbspit, nounspittle, nounspleen, nounspotty, adjectivesputum, nounsternum, nounsteroid, nounstirrup, nounstomach, nounstool, nounstubble, nounsubcutaneous, adjectivesuck, verbsuckle, verbsuckling, nounsweat gland, nounsystem, nountailbone, nountan, verbtan, nountanned, adjectivetarsus, nountartar, nountaste bud, nountear, nounteardrop, nounteat, nountemple, nountendon, nountestes, nountesticle, nountestis, nountestosterone, nounthickset, adjectivethigh, nounthorax, nounthroat, nounthumb, nounthumbnail, nounthyroid, nountibia, nounticklish, adjectivetoe, nountoenail, nountongue, nountonsil, nountooth, nountorso, nountouch, nountrachea, nountriceps, nountrunk, nountympanum, nounulna, nounumbilical cord, nounurethra, nounuterus, nounuvula, nounvagina, nounvascular, adjectivevein, nounvenous, adjectiveventricle, nounvessel, nounvestibule, nounvital, adjectivevocal cords, nounvoice box, nounvulva, nounwaist, nounwall-eyed, adjectivewax, nounwhite, nounwhite blood cell, nounwindpipe, nounwisdom tooth, nounwomb, nounwrinkle, verbwrist, nounyawn, verbyawn, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
informal (=decide on an agreement after a lot of discussion and disagreement)· Traders are focused on Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are hammering out an agreement to balance the federal budget.
(=hit it very loudly and urgently)· A policeman was banging on the door across the road.
(=an engine etc that works by steam power)
(=be forced to accept defeat or a bad situation)
Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.· Such speeds are far faster than any hammer blow and considerably faster than the flight of bullets.· The tunnels were quiet during the hammer blow of 1972.· It brought another hammer blow to Britain's depressed farming industry.· She glanced at her own reflection in the mirror and the answer came with the suddenness of a hammer blow.· Labour's energy spokesman says the decision is bad news for the consumer and a hammer blow for the coal industry.· Granny's thoughts had the strength of hammer blows and they'd pounded her personality into the walls.· The sight was a hammer blow to Yuri Rudakov.· It was followed by a hammer blow that echoed like thunder through the steel hulk.
· To Leeds the news must have come like a blow from a steam hammer.· The steam hammer seen here was his best known work.· The concussion of the exploding wave drove me down like a steam hammer.· There are three gas furnaces, one each for the steam hammers, drop stamps, and rolling mill.
VERB· As for football, it also came under the hammer for the usual reasons.· The miracle of their obedience came with the hammer at dawn.· He had come across rooms with hammers hammered into the walls, screwdrivers screwed into the floor and saws sawed in half.· In 1972 it failed to reach reserve price when it came under the hammer at auction.· Read in studio A collection of battered old toys has come under the hammer at an auction today.· It was part of the contents of a unique toy museum in Buckinghamshire most of which came under the hammer today.
· Hundreds of items go under the hammer to save a medieval manor.· The rest of his collection is going under the hammer.· So that and nearly 500 other lots will go under the hammer at Sotherbys tomorrow.· They will go under the hammer at the London auctioneers Spink on 17 May.
· Fawcett then hit him with the hammer.· Put the Blob on the waxed paper and hit it with the hammer or rock.· The children had been suffocated and Mrs Garvey hit with a hammer.· Meanwhile detectives have revealed that his wife died from head injuries after being hit with a hammer.· The best way to do this is to wrap them in a thick layer of newspaper and hit them with a hammer.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► hammer and tongs
1- A collection of prints and paintings by Picasso came under the hammer at Sotheby's yesterday.
- Three Renoir paintings will come under the hammer at Sotheby's in New York.
- As for football, it also came under the hammer for the usual reasons.
- Hundreds of items go under the hammer to save a medieval manor.
- In 1972 it failed to reach reserve price when it came under the hammer at auction.
- It was part of the contents of a unique toy museum in Buckinghamshire most of which came under the hammer today.
- Read in studio A collection of battered old toys has come under the hammer at an auction today.
- So that and nearly 500 other lots will go under the hammer at Sotherbys tomorrow.
- The rest of his collection is going under the hammer.
- They will go under the hammer at the London auctioneers Spink on 17 May.
- Granny's thoughts had the strength of hammer blows and they'd pounded her personality into the walls.
- It brought another hammer blow to Britain's depressed farming industry.
- It was followed by a hammer blow that echoed like thunder through the steel hulk.
- Labour's energy spokesman says the decision is bad news for the consumer and a hammer blow for the coal industry.
- She glanced at her own reflection in the mirror and the answer came with the suddenness of a hammer blow.
- Such speeds are far faster than any hammer blow and considerably faster than the flight of bullets.
- The sight was a hammer blow to Yuri Rudakov.
- The tunnels were quiet during the hammer blow of 1972.
tool a)a tool with a heavy metal part on a long handle, used for hitting nails into wood b)a tool like this with a wooden head used to make something flat, make a noise etc: an auctioneer’s hammer2come/go under the hammer to be offered for sale at an auction3hammer blow British English an event that damages something very seriouslyhammer for The decision is a hammer blow for the coal industry.4hammer and tongs informal a)if people go at each other hammer and tongs, they fight or argue very loudly b)if someone does something hammer and tongs, they do it with all their energy5gun the part of a gun that hits the explosive charge that fires a bullet6sport a heavy metal ball on a wire with a handle at the end, which you throw as far as possible as a sport7piano a wooden part of a piano that hits the strings inside to make a musical soundhammer1 nounhammer2 verb
hammerhammer2 ●○○ verb VERB TABLE
hammer
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | hammer |
| he, she, it | hammers | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | hammered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have hammered |
| he, she, it | has hammered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had hammered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will hammer |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have hammered |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am hammering |
| he, she, it | is hammering | |
| you, we, they | are hammering | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was hammering |
| you, we, they | were hammering | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been hammering |
| he, she, it | has been hammering | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been hammering |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be hammering |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been hammering |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After a weekend of sawing and hammering nails into 2-by-4s, the dog house was finished.
- Chicago hammered San Diego 13-2.
- Her heart hammered against her ribs.
- Investors have been hammered by a series of dismal economic reports.
- The children hammered at the door to be let in out of the rain.
- Clinton hammered away at campaign themes tailor-made to appeal to predominantly white swing voters who might otherwise vote for Republican Bob Dole.
- Finally he got a job hammering spikes to make the great railroads.
- If not, the Internal Revenue Service certainly hammered home the message.
- Jane dreamt she was clinging to the edge of a cliff, and her bank manager was hammering at her fingers.
- The men hammering it together had beckoned us, beaming, inviting inspection.
- Until he found his goal in life, hammering spikes into the railroad tracks, he was not fully happy.
- We could hear them coming up the stairs right to our door and then shouting and hammering on it.
- White cleared up to the pink with a break of 31 but missed a difficult black which McManus hammered into the yellow pocket.
THESAURUSto hit something
· Jack hit the ball and it flew over the fence.
to hit a door or window with your closed hand in order to attract the attention of the people inside: · Someone was knocking on the door.· I knocked loudly but no one came.
written to hit a surface. Strike is more formal than hit and is mainly used in written English: · The ball struck the side of the goal.
informal to hit something very hard: · Edmonds whacked the ball into the air.
to hit something hard, especially in a way that causes damage: · The police had to bash the door down to get in.
to gently hit something with your fingers, often in order to attract someone’s attention: · I tapped him on the shoulder.· I heard someone tapping on the window.
to knock quickly or hit something several times: · He rapped the table with his pen to bring the meeting to order.· Two police officers rapped on the door at 7 o'clock in the morning.
to suddenly hit something hard, in a way that makes a loud noise: · Her father banged his fist down on the table angrily.· The door suddenly banged shut.
written to hit something many times with a lot of force: · I could hear the sea pounding on the rocks.· She pounded on the door and shouted wildly.
written to hit something quickly many times making a loud continuous noise: · The rain was hammering on the roof.· A crowd of people were outside hammering on the door angrily.
Longman Language Activatorto beat someone very easily in a game, competition, election etc informal to completely beat someone in a game, competition, election etc: · Wow, the Raiders just slaughtered the Seahawks again.· The party strategy was to form an alliance to crush the communists.
informal also cream American spoken to beat someone very easily in a game, competition, election etc: · We've been clobbered twice now by Central High's basketball team.· Chicago hammered Boston in an away game on Saturday.· "How'd the game go?" "We creamed 'em!"
especially British to beat an opposing team or political party easily and completely: · The Australians have once again routed the English cricket team.
informal to defeat someone completely in an argument or competition: · I'd think twice before I started a fight with him - he'd wipe the floor with me!
to play much better than an opponent or team in a game and beat them easily: · Ohio outplayed Michigan, especially in the fourth quarter, winning by 14 points.
to try to reach an agreement in politics or business to discuss a political problem or business arrangement in order to try to reach an agreement - use this especially about political or business leaders: · If we corner him, he won't negotiate.negotiate with: · The government says it will not negotiate with terrorists.negotiate an agreement/deal/price etc: · Colombia and Venezuela are currently negotiating a trade agreement.
a discussion in politics or business during which each group tries to gain for themselves as many advantages as possible but has to give something or do something in return: · After much bargaining, we agreed to share the profits 50-50.· Effective bargaining by their union has gained clothing workers a 9% pay rise.
to discuss the details of a problem or plan thoroughly and argue about them until an agreement is reached: thrash out something: · Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a divorce settlement.· Differences over EU policy were left to be thrashed out at a later date.thrash it out: · If that's going to cause you a problem, we'll have to thrash it out before we get started.
if two people or groups hammer out an agreement, plan etc, they reach agreement about it after discussing it and arguing about it a lot: · Canada and the US have hammered out a final form for their trade agreement.· Before an advertising strategy can be hammered out, the agency must understand the client's true needs.
to discuss a political or social problem publicly or officially, especially in a parliament or committee: · The new law was debated in Parliament on 14 February.· The government clearly refuses to give us an opportunity to debate any longer.be hotly debated (=to be discussed by a lot of people who have strong feelings): · Few areas of nutrition are more hotly debated than whether or not people should take vitamin supplements.
to hit an object/door/table etc with something · You have to try to hit the ball over the net.· The first time I tried archery, I couldn't even hit the target.
to hit a door or window, especially with your closed hand, in order to attract the attention of the people inside: · Would you mind knocking before you come in?· I waited a moment, then knocked again.knock on/at: · Lula knocked at the back door and he appeared, dressed in pyjamas.· 'Mattie?' called Jerry, knocking on the door.
to hit something gently so that it makes a light noise, especially in order to get someone's attention: · Daley read the notes, tapping a pencil on the desk.tap on/at: · She tapped on the window to attract his attention.
to hit a door, table etc very hard with your hand or with an object, in order to attract attention or because you are angry: · Thomas banged his fist on the table.bang on/at: · I banged at the door but nobody came.· He complained loudly until Val finally banged on the table and shouted at him.bang something shut: · Sherman banged the door shut.
to hit something loudly and very quickly several times in order to attract attention: · The conductor rapped the music stand with his baton and the violins stopped playing.rap on/at: · Seeing her son outside, Mrs Evans rapped on the window and called him back into the house.
formal to hit something hard, especially in a very controlled or skilful way: · Morris struck his drum, and the band started to march down the street.· In anger, he struck the wall with a stick.
also give something a bash British informal to hit something hard with your hand or with a stick, hammer etc especially in a careless way: · If the television stops working, just bash it a couple of times -- that usually helps.· I put the box on the floor and gave it a good bash with my hammer, but it still wouldn't open.
to hit something hard and noisily, especially using a flat object: · Buckley whacked the ball into left field.· The Georgia man whacked his fist on the bar.
to keep hitting something very loudly and quickly especially with your closed hand, because you are angry, impatient etc: hammer on/at/against: · The children hammered at the door to be let in out of the rain.· Her heart hammered against her ribs.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1hit with a hammer [intransitive, transitive] to hit something with a hammer in order to force it into a particular position or shapehammer something in/into something informal (=decide on an agreement after a lot of discussion and disagreement)· Traders are focused on Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are hammering out an agreement to balance the federal budget.
(=hit it very loudly and urgently)· A policeman was banging on the door across the road.
(=an engine etc that works by steam power)
(=be forced to accept defeat or a bad situation) Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.· All afternoon, Martin had been hammering away in the conservatory.· Clinton hammered away at campaign themes tailor-made to appeal to predominantly white swing voters who might otherwise vote for Republican Bob Dole.· Often George came in at five o'clock in the morning to hammer away at the pirate ship in the carpenter's shop.· Mrs Clinton began hammering away at the issues during her appearance before Florida Democrats at the Democratic convention.· Thereafter it hammers away with great effect until it has excavated a narrow tunnel as much as three feet long.· I keep hammering away at this point but it applies to so many areas and it's so rarely done.
· He was here to hammer home plans to spend more on education.· If not, the Internal Revenue Service certainly hammered home the message.· That lesson was hammered home by a 1995 Louis Harris and Associates poll commissioned by the Shriners.· But the vice-president kept hammering home his belief that every vote cast in Florida should be counted before the presidency is awarded.· This is hardly surprising, given the way governments the world over have for decades hammered home the dogma of prohibition.· The real danger of these rigs was hammered home recently during a small Open match which saw me ducking for shelter.· That is precisely the message that our consumer society implicitly hammers home.
NOUN· The meetings are not meant to serve as glorified works councils, hammering out grand agreements on petty feuds.· The toxic substances department must approve it and hammer out a legal agreement with the group before moving forward.
· Fifteen minutes later centre forward Quigg was left free to hammer the ball home from 20 yards.
· Men poured from both and raced through the cheering crowd, up the steps, to hammer at the door.· Instead, he marched through the hedge and up her back steps and hammered on the door.· The shock started me hammering at my door again.· Soon he was hammering on the door, thud after thud, a noise fit to wake the dead.· She stopped shouting and gave up hammering on the door.· Seb hammered at the door and tugged at the bell-pull but without anyone answering.· Owls were hooting in the forest when some one came running up the path and hammered on the door.· Sometimes he had every bedroom full by 9 p.m. and people would be hammering on the door to get in.
· As the child subjected him to a solemn, no-nonsense appraisal, Ashley's heart began to hammer behind her ribs.· I stood up, my heart hammering, hyperventilating.· Her heart was hammering as she went up the narrow, cheerless stairs she'd last climbed before her interview.· He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, his blood coursing like a dark, hot tide in his veins.· Presently she heard footsteps coming along the gallery, and sat on the bed, waiting, her heart hammering a little.· Her heart started to hammer against her ribs, her brain went into overdrive.· Walking to the kitchen, she filled the electric kettle, her heart hammering in her chest.
· Or does one hammer the nails into one's own coffin?· The Halutzim were busy packing boxes, hammering nails, tying up chests, writing labels with thick pens and pencils.· This will be awkward to achieve ergonomically because it is more easy for a person to hammer nails straight in.
Hammer the nails into the back of the frame.hammer away (at something) All afternoon, Martin had been hammering away in the conservatory. the sound of hammering and sawing► see thesaurus at hit2hit repeatedly [intransitive] to hit something many times, especially making a loud noise SYN pound, banghammer at Daniella hammered at the door. The rain was hammering against the window.3hurt with problems [transitive] to hurt someone or something by causing them a lot of problems: British industry was being hammered by the recession.4hit hard [transitive] informal to hit or kick something very hard: Robinson hammered the ball into the goal.5criticize [transitive] to strongly criticize or attack someone for something they have said or done: The president has been hammered for his lack of leadership.6hammer something home to make sure that people understand something by repeating it many times: The message must be hammered home that crime doesn’t pay.7heart [intransitive] if your heart hammers, you feel it beating strongly and quickly SYN pound: She stood outside the door, her heart hammering.8defeat [transitive] informal to defeat someone completely at a sport: Arsenal hammered Manchester United 5–0.hammer away phrasal verb1to keep saying something because you want people to understand or accept ithammer away at I keep hammering away at this point because it’s important.2to work hard and continuously at somethinghammer away at Keep on hammering away at achieving your goals.hammer something ↔ in (also hammer something into somebody) phrasal verb to keep saying something until people completely understand it: The coach hammered his message into the team.hammer something ↔ out phrasal verb to decide on an agreement, contract etc after a lot of discussion and disagreement: Leading oil producers tried to hammer out a deal.