🗓️ Idiom: Hit the Books (verb phrase)
💬 Meaning
- To study hard, usually for an exam or important task.
- To focus on learning in a serious and determined way.
🧠 Example Sentences
- She had to hit the books to prepare for her professional certification exam.
- After being promoted, he hit the books to learn advanced management strategies.
- The company encouraged employees to hit the books during training week to develop new skills.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom first appeared in American English in the early 20th century. The phrase uses hit informally to mean “begin” or “apply yourself to” an activity, such as in hit the road. Over time, hit the books became a popular way to describe studying hard, especially among students.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
She needs to __________ before the big accounting exam.
Answer
hit the books
2. Multiple choice:
What does “hit the books” mean?
a) To throw books on a table
b) To read casually
c) To study hard
Answer
c) To study hard
3. Change the sentence using hit the books:
“He started studying seriously for his leadership exam.”
Answer
He hit the books for his leadership exam.
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