hɪt ðə bʊks
Work
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- To physically strike books
What does "hit the books" mean?
- To study intensively
- To begin or resume studying seriously
Examples
- I have exams next week, so I need to hit the books.
- Stop watching TV and hit the books!
- She's been hitting the books for hours.
Origin
American slang from the early 20th century. 'Hit' used in the sense of 'get to work on.' Popular among students.
How to use it
Common student slang. Implies serious, focused studying rather than casual reading.
Similar expressions
study hard
crack the books
buckle down
Opposites
slack off
procrastinate
goof off
Related idioms
- hit the nail on the head
To describe exactly what is true or important
- call it a day
To stop working for the day
- have one's hands full
To be very busy with something
- learn the ropes
To learn the basics of a job or activity
- it's not rocket science
It's not difficult to understand or do
- get your act together
To organize yourself and start behaving more responsibly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "hit the books" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.