hammer at at something Definition

hammer
noun

1. A tool with a heavy metal head on the end of a handle, used for driving nails into wood, breaking hard substances, etc.

Thesaurus: mallet, gavel, club, mace.
2. The part of a bell, piano, clock, etc that hits against some other part, making a noise.
3. The part of a gun that strikes the primer² or percussion cap when the trigger is pulled and causes the bullet to be fired.
4a. sport.
A metal ball on a long flexible steel chain, that is thrown in competitions;
4b. sport.
The sport of throwing this.
5. The mallet with which an auctioneer announces that an article is sold.
6. anatomy.
A small bone of the ear, the malleus.

verb hammered, hammering

tr & intr
1. To strike or hit with or as if with a hammer.

Thesaurus: beat, hit, strike, clobber, knock, whack, bang, pound, drive, cudgel, batter, drum.
intr
2. To make a noise as of a hammer.
(Brit)
3. colloq
To criticize or beat severely.
4. colloq
To defeat.
5a. stock exchange.
To declare a member a defaulter;
5b. stock exchange.
To cause a fall in prices of securities, the market, etc.

Derivative: hammering
noun

(rit)
colloq
A severe beating.

Derivative: hammer-like
adj

Idiom: come under the hammer (go under the hammer)

To be sold at auction.

Idiom: hammer and tongs

colloq
With a lot of noise or effort.

Idiom: hammer something home to someone

To impress (a fact, etc) strongly and effectively on them.

Idiom: on someone's hammer

(ustral, NZ)
slang
Following closely on someone's trail.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hamor.

Phrasal Verb: hammer at or away at something

To work constantly at it.
Example: he hammered away at the problem

Phrasal Verb: hammer at or on something

To strike it loudly and repeatedly.

Phrasal Verb: hammer something in

To drive or force something in with, or as if with, a hammer.To force (facts, etc) into someone through constant repetition.

Phrasal Verb: hammer something out

To shape or remove it with, or as if with, a hammer.To reconcile or settle (problems, differences, etc) after a great deal of effort and discussion.To work out (an agreement, proposal etc) through lengthy negotiation.