Responsible for something, especially financially; obligated to pay for or deal with consequences; caught in a difficult situation.
The opposite of 'off the hook,' this phrase uses the same fishing metaphor but emphasizes being caught and unable to escape. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in financial and legal contexts.
Being 'on the hook' perfectly captures that trapped feeling when you realize you're responsible for something costly or difficult. The fishing metaphor works brilliantly because once you're hooked, struggling often makes things worse – just like many real-life obligations.
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