hat
hat — noun
1. an item worn on the head, typically with a rounded top and a brim that sticks ou
an item worn on the head, typically with a rounded top and a brim that sticks out around the edge, used especially outdoors to shield from sunshine or cold or as part of a uniform or ceremonial dress.
Gabriela wore a wide straw hat to protect her face from the summer sun.
collocation: straw hat / sun hat for weather protection
The old man tipped his hat politely as Anong walked past his shop.
collocation: tip one's hat as a greeting
In winter, Ryo always puts a warm wool hat on his daughter before school.
pattern: put a [material] hat on someone
Jack bought a red and white baseball-style hat from the stadium gift shop.
collocation: baseball-style hat as head covering
Lara hung her wet rain hat on a hook to let it dry.
- straw hat
- wool hat
- sun hat
- rain hat
- top hat
- cowboy hat
- baseball cap
- knit hat
- hat brim
- hat band
- tip one's hat
- put on a hat
- take off a hat
- wear a hat
Grammar Patterns
wear a [type of] hat
put on / take off a hat
[person] + tip(s) one's hat
Common Mistakes
❌ 'She wore a hat on her head and a scarf around her neck.' — This is grammatically correct but redundant: hats are always worn on the head. Omit 'on her head.'
2. one of several jobs or areas of responsibility that a person has, especially whe
one of several jobs or areas of responsibility that a person has, especially when they play different roles in different situations — for example, a manager who also acts as the team's driver and IT support.
At the village school, Obi wears many hats — teacher, cook, and bus driver.
pattern: wear many hats for multiple roles
Caleb is speaking in his hat as finance head, not as a friend.
pattern: in one's hat as [role] for official capacity
When you run your own business, you quickly learn to wear several hats at once.
Dr. Zayd changed hats from surgeon to hospital administrator when he walked into the boardroom.
pattern: change hats to switch between roles
- wear many hats
- wear several hats
- change hats
- switch hats
- in one's hat as
- put on a different hat
Grammar Patterns
wear + [number/several/many] + hats
change hats
in one's hat as + [role]
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used in fixed expressions such as wear many hats, change hats, or in one's hat as [role]. It is not used as a standalone countable noun (❌ 'She has a new hat' for 'She has a new role'). The metaphor comes from the idea that different official positions in history had distinct headwear, so a person 'wearing a different hat' means they are acting in a different capacity.
Common Mistakes
at the drop of a hat
idiomimmediately and without any hesitation, no matter what the situation is.
Vinícius would help a neighbour fix a broken fence at the drop of a hat.
The band is ready to perform at the drop of a hat whenever they are called.
hat in hand
idiomin a humble or apologetic manner, asking someone for something such as money, a favour, or forgiveness.
After the budget cuts, the principal went hat in hand to the town council asking for emergency funds.
Eleni had to go hat in hand to her parents after losing her wallet abroad.
hang your hat
idiomto live in a particular place or to regard a place as your home.
After ten years of travelling, Eitan finally found a city where he could hang his hat.
The hotel was comfortable, but it never felt like a place to hang your hat long-term.
to place all your faith, hope, or reliance on a particular idea, plan, or fact.
The company is hanging its hat on the new smartphone to rescue falling sales.
Renata is hanging her hat on the scholarship to pay for medical school next year.
used to express admiration and respect for something impressive that someone has done.
I take my hat off to Anjali for organizing the whole festival with no outside help.
Hats off to the rescue team for saving the family from the floodwaters.
to keep a piece of information secret and not tell anyone else about it.
Keep this news under your hat until the company makes its official statement.
I know who won the award, but I promised to keep it under my hat.
to collect money from a group of people, typically to buy a gift or to help someone in need.
The office staff passed the hat around to buy a leaving gift for their manager.
Neighbours passed the hat round to help the family whose house had burned down.
to suddenly produce a surprising solution to a difficult problem, as if by magic.
The tech team pulled a rabbit out of the hat and restored the data just before the deadline.
The government will need to pull something out of a hat to fix the transport crisis.
to talk confidently about a subject that you know very little about, saying things that are not true or sensible.
The reporter was talking through her hat when she claimed the school was closing down.
Don't listen to him about car engines — he's talking through his hat.
to officially declare that you want to compete for a position, such as in an election or a contest.
Three candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the mayoral election.
Eleni decided to throw her hat into the ring and apply for the job of department head.
out of a / the hat
idiomchosen completely at random, as if by pulling a name from a container.
The winning ticket was pulled out of a hat at the school fundraising raffle.
The prize winner was chosen out of a hat from over two thousand entries.
I'll eat my hat
idiomused to say that you are absolutely certain something will not happen.
If the train arrives on time today, I'll eat my hat.
Chen says he'll finish the project by Friday, but I'll eat my hat if he does.
To humbly ask someone for something, often money, in a way that shows you are in a weaker position.
After losing his job, Tom went hat in hand to his brother for a loan.
The charity went hat in hand to local businesses for donations.
my hat
idiomUsed to show that you are surprised or shocked by something.
My hat! I didn't expect to see you here so early.
She won the race? My hat, that's amazing!
I’ll eat my hat
idiomUsed to say that you are certain something will not happen.
If he finishes the project on time, I'll eat my hat.
She said she'd arrive at eight. I'll eat my hat if she does.
Used to express great admiration for someone because of something they have done.
I take my hat off to Sara for organizing the entire event alone.
Hats off to the firefighters who saved the building.
To be much better than someone or something else.
Her performance knocked the other singers into a cocked hat.
This new software knocks the old version into a cocked hat.
out of a/the hat
idiomChosen by chance from a container, so that every option has an equal chance.
The winner's name was picked out of a hat at the fair.
They drew the starting order out of a hat before the race.
To collect money from a group of people, often for a gift or charity.
We passed the hat around to buy a farewell present for Diego.
At the meeting, they passed the hat to raise funds for the new library.
To suddenly produce an unexpected solution to a problem.
The CEO pulled a rabbit out of the hat and saved the company.
Can you pull a solution out of the hat before the deadline?
hat — verb
1. to put a hat on yourself or on someone else's head; to provide or cover with a h
to put a hat on yourself or on someone else's head; to provide or cover with a hat, especially as part of a formal outfit or ceremonial dress.
All the racegoers were hatted in bright silk for the annual derby at the racetrack.
passive: be hatted in [garment] for formal occasions
Anong hatted herself carefully before stepping out into the strong afternoon sun.
reflexive: hat oneself as a deliberate action
Mei hatted her son in a bright orange rain hat before the sudden downpour started.
transitive: hat someone in [garment] for protection
The guests arrived for the garden party smartly hatted in spring colours.
- hatted in
- well hatted
- smartly hatted
- put on a hat
the natural everyday phrase instead of the verb 'hat'; far more common in all registers
- wear a hat
describes the state of having a hat on, rather than the action of putting one on
Grammar Patterns
be hatted in [garment/material]
hat oneself
hat [someone] in [garment]
Usage Note
This verb sense is uncommon in everyday modern English. People normally say 'put on a hat' or 'wear a hat' rather than using 'hat' as a verb. The past participle 'hatted' appears occasionally in formal or literary descriptions ('a well-hatted crowd,' 'she was hatted in blue velvet'). The transitive use 'the milliner hatted the party' is very rare and mainly historical.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- hatternounC2
- hatlessadjectiveC2
- hattedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Hat is the most general term for any head covering, usually with a brim and a shaped crown — think of a sun hat, a cowboy hat, or a top hat. Cap typically refers to a soft, close-fitting head covering with a visor at the front but no brim around the whole head; common types include baseball caps, school caps, and swim caps. Bonnet describes a woman's or child's hat that fastens under the chin, now used mainly for babies or in historical contexts. Helmet is a hard, protective covering worn for safety in sports (cycling, football), construction, or military combat. For example: you wear a sun hat on the beach, a baseball cap to a game, a bonnet on a baby, and a helmet when riding a bicycle.
Common collocations
Nouns
- hat shop
- hat size
- hat style
- hat collection
Phrases
- under one's hat
- out of a hat
- with hat in hand
Prepositions
- in a hat
- with a hat
- without a hat
Etymology
The word hat comes from Old English hæt, which meant a covering for the head. It traces back to the Proto-Germanic word *hattuz, which is related to the word hood. The metaphorical use of hat to mean a person's role or job responsibility dates from the 1800s, based on the idea that different official positions once had their own distinct headwear — a judge's hat, a bishop's hat, a soldier's hat.