hitch

 
Pronunciation: /hɪtʃ/

verb

  • 1 [with object, and adverbial of direction] move (something) into a different position with a jerk: she hitched up her skirt and ran
  • 2 [no object] informal travel by hitch-hiking: they hitched to Birmingham
  • [with object] obtain (a lift) by hitch-hiking: I hitched a ride up the road
  • 3 [with object] fasten or tether: he returned to where he had hitched his horse
  • harness (a draught animal or team): Thomas hitched the pony to his cart

noun

  • 1a temporary difficulty or problem: everything went without a hitch
  • 2a knot of a particular kind, typically one used for fastening a rope to something else.
  • North American a device for attaching one thing to another, especially the tow bar of a motor vehicle.
  • 3 informal an act of hitch-hiking: a long walk and a hitch back to Capel Curig
  • 4North American informal a period of service: his 12-year hitch in the navy

Phrases

get hitched

informal marry.

hitch one's wagon to a star

try to succeed by forming a relationship with someone who is already successful.

Origin:

Middle English (in hitch (sense 1 of the verb)): of unknown origin