over the hump

hump

[huhmp]
noun
1.
a rounded protuberance, especially a fleshy protuberance on the back, as that due to abnormal curvature of the spine in humans, or that normally present in certain animals, as the camel or bison.
2.
Physical Geography.
a.
a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.
b.
a mountain or mountain range.
3.
Railroads. (in a switchyard) a raised area down which cars pushed to its crest roll by gravity and momentum for automatic sorting through a series of preset switches.
4.
Slang: Vulgar.
a.
an act or instance of coitus.
b.
a partner in coitus.
5.
the hump.
a.
British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor: to get the hump.
b.
( initial capital letter ) (in World War II) the Himalayas.
verb (used with object)
6.
to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch: The cat humped its back.
7.
Railroads. to sort (cars) by means of a hump.
8.
Informal. to exert (oneself) in a great effort.
9.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
10.
Slang.
a.
to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
b.
to carry or haul.
c.
to load or unload; lift.
00:10
Over the hump is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used without object)
11.
to rise in a hump.
12.
Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.
13.
Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.
Idioms
14.
over the hump, past the most difficult, time-consuming, or dangerous part or period: The doctor says she's over the hump now and should improve steadily.
Origin:
1700–10; probably abstracted from humpbacked

Related forms
hump·er, noun
hump·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To over the hump
Collins
World English Dictionary
hump (hʌmp) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a rounded protuberance or projection, as of earth, sand, etc
2.  pathol a rounded deformity of the back in persons with kyphosis, consisting of a convex spinal curvature
3.  a rounded protuberance on the back of a camel or related animal
4.  informal (Brit) the hump a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump)
5.  over the hump past the largest or most difficult portion of work, time, etc
 
—vb
6.  to form or become a hump; hunch; arch
7.  slang (Brit) (tr) to carry or heave
8.  slang to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
9.  informal (Austral), (NZ) hump one's swag (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back
 
[C18: probably from earlier humpbacked]
 
'humplike
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

hump
1680s (in hump-backed), from Du. homp "lump," from M.L.G. hump "bump," from P.Gmc. *khump-. Replaced, or perhaps influenced by, O.E. crump. A meaning attested from 1901 is "mound in a railway yard over which cars must be pushed," which may be behind the figurative sense of "critical point of an undertaking"
(1914). The verb meaning "to do the sex act with" is attested from 1785, but the source of this indicates it is an older word. Humpback whale is from 1725.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

hump definition


  1. tv. & in.
    to copulate [with] someone. (Refers to male arching his back in copulation, as in fornicate. Usually objectionable.) : The sailor spent his entire leave drinking and humping.
  2. n.
    an act of copulation. (Usually objectionable.) : The sailor said he needed a hump and left the ship for the port.
  3. n.
    a person who will copulate without much persuasion. (Usually objectionable.) : He's okay as a hump, but he can't dance.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

hump (along) definition


  1. in.
    to move along in a hurry. : Come on, move it! Hump to the main office and be fast about it!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

over the hump definition


  1. mod.
    drug intoxicated. : Things should be easy from now on. We are over the hump.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

over the hump

Past the most difficult part, as in She's over the hump with her dissertation; she'll soon be done. This expression alludes to a barrier that impedes progress. [Colloquial; 1920s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT