pass the hat

noun

1. a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, especially for wear outdoors.
2. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. the distinctive head covering of a cardinal.
   2. the office or dignity of a cardinal.Compare red hat.

verb (used with object), hat·ted, hat·ting.

3. to provide with a hat; put a hat on.

Idioms

4. hat in hand, humbly; respectfully: He approached the boss, hat in hand.
5. pass the hat, to ask for contributions of money, as for charity; take up a collection: The lodge members passed the hat to send underprivileged children to summer camp.
6. take off one’s hat to, to express high regard for; praise: We took off our hats to their courage and daring.
7. talk through one’s hat, to speak without knowing the facts; make unsupported or incorrect statements: He is talking through his hat when he says he’ll make the team.
8. throw/toss one’s hat in/into the ring, to become a participant in a contest, especially to declare one’s candidacy for political office: His friends are urging him to throw his hat in the ring.
9. under one’s hat, confidential; private; secret: I’ll tell you the real story, but keep it under your hat.
10. wear two/several hats, to function in more than one capacity; fill two or more positions: He wears two hats, serving as the company’s comptroller as well as its chief executive officer.

noun

1. 1. any of various head coverings, esp one with a brim and a shaped crown
   2. (in combination)hatrack
2. informal a role or capacity
3. at the drop of a hat without hesitation or delay
4. I’ll eat my hat informal I will be greatly surprised if (something that proves me wrong) happensI’ll eat my hat if this book comes out late
5. hat in hand humbly or servilely
6. keep something under one’s hat to keep something secret
7. my hat (interjection) British informal
   1. my word! my goodness!
   2. nonsense!
8. old hat something stale or old-fashioned
9. out of a hat
   1. as if by magic
   2. at random
10. pass the hat round or send the hat round to collect money, as for a cause
11. take off one’s hat to to admire or congratulate
12. talk through one’s hat
    1. to talk foolishly
    2. to deceive or bluff
13. throw one’s hat at it Irish to give up all hope of getting or achieving somethingyou can throw your hat at it now
14. throw one’s hat in the ring or toss one’s hat in the ring to announce one’s intentions to be a candidate or contestant

verb hats, hatting or hatted

15. (tr) to supply (a person, etc) with a hat or put a hat on (someone)

n.Old English hæt “hat, head covering,” from Proto-Germanic *hattuz “hood, cowl” (cf. Frisian hat, Old Norse hattr), from PIE root *kadh- “cover, protect” (cf. Lithuanian kudas “tuft or crest of a bird,” Latin cassis “helmet”). Now, “head covering with a more or less horizontal brim.” To throw one’s hat in the ring was originally (1847) to take up a challenge in prize-fighting. To eat one’s hat is said to have been originally To eat Old Rowley’s [Charles II’s] hat. Ask for financial contributions, as in Let’s pass the hat so we can get her a nice going-away gift. This expression alludes to the actual practice of passing a hat around a gathering, but it is also used more figuratively, as in The board decided to pass the hat again among the corporate sponsors. [Late 1800s] In addition to the idioms beginning with hat

hate someone’s guts

hat in hand

hat in the ring

hats off to

hat trick

also see:

at the drop of a hat

brass hat

eat one’s hat

hang on to your hat

hang up (one’s hat)

hard hat

hats off to

keep under one’s hat

knock into a cocked hat

pass the hat

pull out of a hat

take one’s hat off to

talk through one’s hat

throw one’s hat in the ring

wear another hat

Also see undercap.