hack
gb/hˈæk/ us/hˈæk/
B1
English
~ 8500
feltör, betör, praktikus trükk, hasznos tipp, hackertámadás, feltörés, vagdal, csapkod, kontár, bértollnok, pártkatona, bír, boldogul, megállja a helyét, összedob, összetákol, szárazon köhög, krákog, hátasló, vén igásló
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to hack into [a system/account]
Hackers managed to hack into the company’s payment system and steal customer data.
Hackereknek sikerült feltörniük a cég fizetési rendszerét, és ügyféladatokat loptak el.
Someone hacked into her email and sent messages pretending to be her.
Valaki feltörte az e-mail-fiókját, és a nevében küldött üzeneteket.
The government is investigating who hacked into the election database last year.
Criminals tried to hack into the bank’s network but were stopped by new security software.
Learner examples
Someone hacked into my Facebook account.
Valaki feltörte a Facebook-fiókomat.
The police caught a man who hacked into the school computers.
A rendőrség elkapott egy férfit, aki feltörte az iskola számítógépeit.
They are afraid that hackers will hack into the hospital system.
You should use strong passwords so people cannot hack into your accounts.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "hack" to mean simply "do computer programming" in general. In everyday English, "hack" usually implies breaking into a system without permission. Use verbs like "program" or "code" when you mean normal, legal software work.
Meaning
Illegally enter a computer or account
Collocations
hack into a computer
|hack into an account
|hack a database
|hack a server
|hack a phone
Synonyms
break into (More general; can be physical or digital, not only computers.)
|
breach (More formal and technical; often used for security and data systems.)
Antonyms
secure (Means to protect a system so that people cannot hack it.)
|
protect (General opposite idea of stopping unauthorized access.)
Themes
technology
|internet
|crime
|law
Definition
To get into a computer, network, or online account without permission.
To access a computer system, network, or digital account without permission, usually by overcoming security measures.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
hasznos tipp
A2
Usage pattern:
a hack for [doing something]
She shared a great hack for folding fitted sheets in under a minute.
Megosztott egy remek trükköt arra, hogyan lehet egy perc alatt összehajtani a gumis lepedőt.
Freezing leftover wine in ice cube trays is a smart cooking hack.
Okos konyhai trükk, ha a megmaradt bort jégkockatartóban lefagyasztjuk.
Do you know any hacks for getting kids out of the house on time?
The article lists ten simple money-saving hacks for students.
Learner examples
This is a good hack for cleaning your kitchen fast.
Ez egy jó trükk a konyha gyors kitakarításához.
He showed me a phone hack that saves battery.
Mutatott egy telefonos trükköt, amely kíméli az akkumulátort.
I learned a new study hack from a video.
Do you have any hacks for sleeping better?
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "hack" must be about computers. In modern informal English, "hack" is very common for everyday tips, especially in phrases like "life hack" or "productivity hack."
Meaning
Simple clever trick or shortcut
Collocations
a useful hack
|a quick hack
|a life hack
|productivity hacks
|a travel hack
Synonyms
shortcut (Focuses more on saving time or steps; not always clever or creative.)
|
trick (Very general; can sound less positive or less practical than "hack".)
|
tip (More neutral and traditional; lacks the modern, trendy feel of "hack".)
Antonyms
complication (Something that makes a task harder instead of easier.)
|
inefficiency (A way of doing something that wastes time or effort instead of saving it.)
Themes
daily life
|self-improvement
|technology
|daily_life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small idea or trick that helps you do something more easily or quickly.
A simple, practical, and often creative method or shortcut that makes a task easier, quicker, or more efficient.
NOUN
B2
3
feltörés
B2
Usage pattern:
a hack on [a system/company]
The company is offering free credit monitoring after a massive hack exposed customer information.
A cég ingyenes hitelfigyelési szolgáltatást kínál, miután egy nagyszabású hackertámadás során ügyféladatok kerültek nyilvánosságra.
The hack was traced back to a group operating overseas.
A hackertámadást egy külföldön működő csoporthoz vezették vissza.
Following the hack, the website stayed offline for several days.
Lawmakers demanded answers about how the government email hack was allowed to happen.
Learner examples
The bank lost data in a big hack.
A bank adatokat vesztett el egy nagy hackertámadás során.
After the hack, many users changed their passwords.
A hackertámadás után sok felhasználó megváltoztatta a jelszavát.
The police are still looking for the person behind the hack.
New software was installed to stop another hack.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this noun sense with the person who does the hacking (a "hacker"). In most modern English, the person is called a "hacker," and the event or incident is called a "hack" or a "breach."
Meaning
Unauthorized access incident (data breach)
Collocations
a major hack
|a security hack
|fall victim to a hack
|protect against hacks
|in the wake of the hack
Synonyms
breach (More formal and common in news; often used for data or security breaches.)
|
cyberattack (Broader; includes many types of online attacks, not only unauthorized access.)
Antonyms
protection (Refers to security that stops hacks from happening.)
|
secure system (A system that has not been hacked and is well protected.)
Themes
technology
|internet
|crime
|law
Definition
An event when someone breaks into a computer system or online service without permission.
An event in which a computer system, network, or digital service is accessed without permission, often resulting in stolen or exposed data.
VERB
B1
4
Usage pattern:
to hack at [something]
He hacked at the thick branches until a path opened through the undergrowth.
Addig vagdalta a vastag ágakat, amíg ösvény nyílt a sűrű aljnövényzeten át.
The butcher hacked the carcass into large pieces.
A hentes nagy darabokra vagdalta a húst.
They spent the afternoon hacking away at the frozen ground with shovels.
She hacked the old tree stump out of the soil with an axe.
Learner examples
He hacked at the tree with an axe.
Fejszével vagdalta a fát.
The cook hacked the chicken into big pieces.
A szakács nagy darabokra vagdalta a csirkét.
We hacked a path through the tall plants.
They hacked away at the ice on the steps.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "hack" instead of more neutral verbs like "cut" in everyday situations. Use "hack" when the cutting is strong, rough, or repeated, not when it is neat or careful.
Meaning
Cut or hit roughly with a tool
Collocations
hack at the bushes
|hack through the jungle
|hack off a branch
|hack the meat
|hack away at the wood
Synonyms
chop (Similar, but can sound more controlled; "hack" suggests rougher or less careful action.)
|
slash (Emphasizes fast, forceful cutting, often with something sharp and long like a knife or sword.)
Antonyms
slice (Suggests smooth, neat cutting, the opposite of the rough idea in "hack.")
|
trim (Means to cut carefully and neatly, not roughly.)
Themes
nature
|tools
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
Definition
To cut something again and again in a strong, rough way, usually with a big tool.
To cut or strike something many times in a rough, forceful way, especially with a heavy tool such as an axe or large knife.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
a [field] hack
Many critics dismissed him as just another Hollywood hack.
Sok kritikus csak egy újabb hollywoodi kontárnak tartotta.
She refused to become a political hack who simply repeated the party line.
Nem volt hajlandó olyan pártkatonává válni, aki egyszerűen csak a párt hivatalos álláspontját ismételgeti.
The article reads like it was written by a lazy hack on a tight deadline.
He started as a newspaper hack before becoming a respected novelist.
Learner examples
They called him a political hack because he always agreed with the party.
Pártkatonának nevezték, mert mindig egyetértett a párttal.
Some people think the film was made by hacks, not real artists.
Egyesek szerint a filmet kontárok készítették, nem igazi művészek.
She does not want to write like a hack just to make money.
He worked as a newspaper hack for many years.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the positive sense of a "hack" as a clever solution. In this meaning, calling someone a "hack" is negative and insulting, especially about their professional quality.
Meaning
Low‑quality or unoriginal professional
Collocations
a political hack
|a party hack
|a Hollywood hack
|a journalistic hack
|just another hack
Synonyms
hacksaw (N/A)
|
drone (Suggests a worker who works without creativity; less specifically about low quality for money.)
|
hack writer (More specific phrase for an unoriginal or low-quality writer.)
|
lackey (Focuses more on being obedient to powerful people than on low-quality work.)
Antonyms
professional (Suggests someone who does their job with skill and standards, not like a hack.)
|
talent (Emphasizes genuine ability and creativity, the opposite of a hack.)
Themes
work
|media
|politics
Definition
A person, often a writer or worker in politics, who does boring, low-quality work mostly for money.
A professional, especially a writer, journalist, or political worker, who produces dull, unoriginal, or low-quality work mainly to earn money or please others, rather than out of skill or integrity.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
6
Usage pattern:
to hack it in [a place/role]; to hack [it]
He just couldn’t hack it in the army and left after six months.
Egyszerűen nem bírta a katonaságot, és hat hónap után otthagyta.
If you can’t hack the long hours, this job isn’t for you.
Ha nem bírod a hosszú munkaidőt, ez az állás nem neked való.
She thought she could hack it as a lawyer, but the stress was too much.
Not everyone can hack the pressure of working in emergency medicine.
Learner examples
I can’t hack it in this noisy office.
Nem bírom ezt a zajos irodát.
He couldn’t hack the cold weather and moved south.
Nem bírta a hideg időt, ezért délre költözött.
She tried to be a doctor but couldn’t hack it.
If you can’t hack the stress, you should change jobs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "hack it" is about computers because of other meanings of "hack." In this expression, "hack it" is an informal way to say "cope" or "handle," and it is not related to technology.
Meaning
Cope with or manage something
Collocations
can’t hack it
|hack it in the city
|hack it as a teacher
|hack the pressure
|hack the workload
Synonyms
cope (More neutral and common in both spoken and written English; slightly more formal than "hack it.")
|
handle (Similar meaning; does not carry the informal tone of "hack it.")
|
manage (General word for dealing with difficulty; less emotional than "can’t hack it.")
Antonyms
struggle (Emphasizes difficulty and lack of success in coping.)
|
give up (Means to stop trying because you cannot hack it.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be able to do or accept something difficult or stressful.
To be able to handle, tolerate, or perform adequately in a difficult situation, job, or environment.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
7
összedob
B1
összetákol
B2
Usage pattern:
to hack [something] together
We hacked together a working demo the night before the presentation.
A prezentáció előtti este összedobtunk egy működő demót.
The app was hacked together in a weekend and still has lots of bugs.
Az appot egy hétvége alatt tákolták össze, és még mindig tele van hibával.
They hacked a simple prototype so investors could see the basic idea.
He hacked the script so the scene could be filmed with fewer actors.
Learner examples
We hacked together a simple website for the event.
Összedobtunk egy egyszerű weboldalt az eseményre.
She hacked a quick meal together with what was in the fridge.
Gyorsan összedobott valami ennivalót abból, ami a hűtőben volt.
They hacked a small program to test the idea.
He hacked the chair back together with tape and glue.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the illegal computer sense. Here, "hack" means to build or change something quickly and roughly, and does not necessarily mean anything illegal.
Meaning
Make or change something quickly and roughly
Collocations
hack together a solution
|hack some code
|hack a quick prototype
|hack the script
|hack something together overnight
Synonyms
cobble together (Very close meaning; often used outside of tech as well.)
|
jerry-rig (Informal; emphasizes temporary or unstable construction with limited tools or parts.)
|
throw together (General and informal; does not strongly suggest technical or creative work.)
Antonyms
craft (Suggests careful, skilled, and detailed creation, not quick and rough.)
|
refine (Means to improve and polish something, the opposite of just hacking it together.)
Themes
technology
|work
|creativity
Definition
To make or change something fast and not very neatly, often just so it works for now.
To build, fix, or modify something quickly and in a rough, improvised way, often using whatever methods or materials are available, especially in technical or creative work.
VERB
B2
8
krákog
B2
Usage pattern:
to hack [all night]; to hack up [phlegm/blood]
He hacked all night, unable to sleep because of the dry air.
A száraz levegő miatt egész éjjel szárazon köhögött, és nem tudott aludni.
The smoker sat in the corner, hacking and wheezing loudly.
A dohányos a sarokban ült, hangosan krákogott és zihált.
She kept hacking into a tissue, her throat raw from the infection.
After a few minutes he began to hack up thick phlegm.
Learner examples
He hacked all night because of his cold.
A megfázása miatt egész éjjel szárazon köhögött.
The sick man sat in bed and hacked into a towel.
A beteg férfi az ágyban ült, és erősen köhögött egy törölközőbe.
She hacked badly during the meeting and had to leave.
The doctor asked him how long he had been hacking.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize "hack" as a verb for coughing and may think it always refers to computers. In phrases like "a hacking cough," it clearly relates to the sound of coughing.
Meaning
Cough hard or repeatedly
Collocations
hack all night
|hack and cough
|hacking cough
|hack up phlegm
|hack up blood
Synonyms
cough (General term; does not necessarily suggest the harsh or repeated sound of "hack.")
|
splutter (Focuses more on a choking or messy sound than on a dry, repeated cough.)
Antonyms
breathe easily (Describes normal breathing without coughing.)
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
Definition
To cough again and again in a hard, dry way.
To cough in a hard, dry, or repeated way, often sounding harsh or painful.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
9
hátasló
B2
vén igásló
B2
Usage pattern:
an old hack
The children learned to ride on an old, gentle hack.
A gyerekek egy öreg, szelíd hátaslovon tanultak lovagolni.
He used to be a star, but now he’s seen as a tired old hack.
Valaha sztár volt, de ma már csak fáradt öreg igáslónak tartják.
They treated him like a hack, giving him only the most boring jobs.
The stable keeps a few quiet hacks for beginners to practice on.
Learner examples
She rode a quiet hack at the farm.
Egy nyugodt hátaslovon lovagolt a farmon.
He feels like an old hack at work, doing the same job every day.
Úgy érzi magát a munkahelyén, mint egy öreg igásló, mert mindennap ugyanazt a munkát végzi.
They called him a tired old hack after the show.
The school keeps some hacks for new riders.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the insulting professional sense of "hack" for a low-quality worker. This meaning can be similar when used about people, but it also has a more literal sense for ordinary riding horses.
Meaning
Worn‑out horse or overused person
Collocations
old hack
|tired old hack
|worn-out hack
|a riding hack
|treated like a hack
Synonyms
nag (Informal word for an old or weak horse; close to the horse meaning of "hack.")
|
has-been (Informal; focuses on a person who was once successful but is no longer important.)
Antonyms
star (Suggests someone admired and in demand, not a worn‑out hack.)
|
thoroughbred (A well-bred, high-quality horse, opposite of an ordinary hack.)
Themes
animals
|insults
|work
Definition
A horse for normal riding, not sport; or a person or thing that is old, tired, and used only for boring work.
A horse used mainly for everyday riding rather than for racing or show; by extension, a person or thing that is tired, overused, or only fit for dull routine work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hack
IPA
GB/hˈæk/
US/hˈæk/
Syllables & stress
hack (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hack)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hack
- Plural: hacks
Verb
- Base: hack
- 3rd Person Singular: hacks
- Present Participle: hacking
- Past: hacked
Word family
Forms
hacks
noun
hacking
verb
hacked
verb
Core family
hacker
noun B2
Related words
hackable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unhackable
adjective
Advanced or less common
hacktivist
noun
hacktivism
noun
Expressions
can’t hack it
1/kˈænt hˈæk ˈɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
Be unable to cope or succeed
To not be able to do or accept something difficult or stressful.
Examples
- He dropped out of medical school because he just couldn’t hack it.
- If you can’t hack it, no one will blame you for quitting.
- Some new hires simply couldn’t hack it and left after a few weeks.
hack around with
1/hˈæk ɚˈaʊnd wˈɪθ/
phrasal verb
informal
Experiment casually with something
To play with or try different things with a device, system, or idea without a strict plan.
Examples
- He likes to hack around with old computers in his spare time.
- We spent the afternoon hacking around with the new software tools.
- She hacked around with the code until the error finally disappeared.
hack away at
1/hˈæk əwˈeɪ ˈæt/
phrasal verb
Cut or hit something again and again
To keep cutting or hitting something many times, usually in a strong and rough way.
Examples
- They spent hours hacking away at the thick roots with an axe.
- He hacked away at the ice on the windshield until it finally broke free.
- The workers hacked away at the old fence posts to clear the land.
hack into
1/hˈæk ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Illegally access a system or account
To get into a computer, network, or online account without permission.
Examples
- Criminals tried to hack into the hospital’s computer system.
- Someone hacked into my email and changed the password.
- The company strengthened its security after hackers hacked into its servers last year.
hack it
1/hˈæk ˈɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
Cope or succeed in a situation
To be able to do or accept something difficult or stressful; to manage or succeed.
Examples
- If you can’t hack it in this industry, you should look for another career.
- She thought she could hack it in New York, but the pace was too fast.
- Only a few trainees really hacked it and made it to the final round.
hack job
1/hˈæk d͡ʒˈɑb/
fixed phrase
informal
Very poor, rushed work
Work that is done too fast and without care, so the result is very bad.
Examples
- The repair was a total hack job and broke again a week later.
- Critics called the movie a hack job full of clichés.
- Whoever installed this wiring did a real hack job on the house.
hack together
1/hˈæk təɡˈɛðɚ/
phrasal verb
informal
Make something quickly and roughly
To build or make something fast and not very neatly, often just so it works for now.
Examples
- We hacked together a basic website so customers could place orders online.
- They hacked together a cheap sound system for the party using old speakers.
- The engineers hacked together a temporary fix while they worked on a real solution.
hack up
1/hˈæk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Cut something roughly into pieces
To cut something into several pieces in a strong, rough way.
Examples
- The butcher hacked up the carcass in a matter of minutes.
- They hacked up the fallen tree so they could move it off the road.
- He hacked up the old furniture and took it to the dump.
life hack
1/lˈaɪf hˈæk/
fixed phrase
informal
Clever tip for everyday life
A simple, clever idea that helps you do a normal daily task more easily or quickly.
Examples
- Putting your phone in a glass to make the sound louder is a classic life hack.
- The video went viral because it shared ten easy life hacks for small apartments.
- Freezing grapes to chill wine without watering it down is my favorite life hack.
old hack
1/ˈoʊld hˈæk/
fixed phrase
informal
Boring, overused or untalented worker
A person who has done the same job for many years and is seen as boring or not very good.
Examples
- He’s just an old hack who’s been writing the same story for twenty years.
- She doesn’t want to become an old hack stuck in a job she hates.
- They hired a few young writers to freshen up the team of old hacks.