hawk
gb/hˈɔk/ us/hˈɔk/
B1
English
~ 8500
héja, keményvonalas, kínálgat, házal, felkrákog, krákog, solymászik, ragadozó madárral vadászik, vakolótálca
NOUN
B1
1
héja
B1
Usage pattern:
a hawk flies/circles/hunts
A hawk circled high above the field, searching for a mouse.
Egy héja körözött magasan a mező fölött, egeret keresve.
The farmer watched a hawk swoop down and grab a rabbit.
A gazda végignézte, ahogy egy héja lecsapott, és elkapott egy nyulat.
Through the binoculars, we spotted a hawk perched on the fence post.
Photographers waited hours to get a clear shot of the hawk in flight.
The wildlife center rescues injured hawks and releases them back into the wild.
Learner examples
A hawk is flying over the trees.
Egy héja repül a fák fölött.
The hawk catches a small bird.
A héja elkap egy kismadarat.
We saw a hawk sitting on a rock.
The hawk uses its sharp claws to take its food.
I took a photo of a hawk in the sky.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "hawk" with "eagle" or "falcon". All are birds of prey, but a hawk is usually smaller than an eagle and is a specific type of bird, not a general word for all large birds.
Meaning
Medium-sized bird of prey
Collocations
a hawk circles overhead
|soaring hawk
|red-tailed hawk
|train a hawk
|hawk's sharp talons
|hawk hunts its prey
Synonyms
bird of prey (More general term for any hunting bird such as hawks, eagles, and falcons.)
Antonyms
prey (Refers to animals that are hunted and eaten, the opposite role of a hawk as a predator.)
Themes
animals
|nature
Definition
A bird that kills and eats small animals, with a sharp beak and strong claws.
A medium-sized bird of prey with a sharp hooked beak, strong talons, and excellent eyesight, that hunts and eats other animals.
NOUN
B2
2
héja
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a hawk on [issue]
On foreign policy, she is seen as a hawk who rarely opposes military action.
Külpolitikai kérdésekben keményvonalasnak tartják: ritkán ellenez katonai beavatkozást.
The central bank's inflation hawk argued for higher interest rates.
A jegybank inflációval szemben keményvonalas tagja magasabb kamatok mellett érvelt.
Some fiscal hawks in Congress are demanding deep spending cuts.
The president tried to balance the views of hawks and doves in his cabinet.
As a young senator he was a war hawk, but later became more cautious.
Learner examples
Many voters think he is a hawk on national security.
Sok választó úgy gondolja, hogy nemzetbiztonsági kérdésekben keményvonalas.
The hawks in the government want stronger military action.
A kormányban lévő keményvonalasok erőteljesebb katonai fellépést akarnak.
An inflation hawk worries a lot about rising prices.
Doves want peace, but hawks want to use force.
She was called a hawk because she pushed for war.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning still refers to the animal. In politics or economics, "hawk" always describes a type of person or attitude, not the bird. Also, "hawk" here is usually singular and countable ("a hawk", "the hawks in the party") and is commonly contrasted with "dove".
Meaning
Supporter of aggressive policies
Collocations
foreign policy hawk
|war hawk
|inflation hawk
|deficit hawk
|hawks and doves
|hard-line hawk
Synonyms
hard-liner (Emphasizes strong, inflexible views; not limited to war or economics but similar idea of being very strict.)
Antonyms
dove (In politics, a dove prefers peaceful or cautious solutions instead of aggressive or military ones.)
Themes
politics
|society
|economics
|business
Definition
A person who wants very strong or forceful government actions, often in war or in money policy.
A person, especially a politician or adviser, who strongly supports aggressive or hard-line policies, particularly favoring the use of force in foreign policy or strict control in economic policy.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to hawk [something] [place]
Vendors hawk souvenirs to tourists outside the stadium.
Az árusok szuveníreket kínálgatnak a turistáknak a stadion előtt.
She spent the afternoon hawking homemade cookies in the park.
Az egész délutánt azzal töltötte, hogy házi sütiket kínálgatott a parkban.
Start-ups often hawk their ideas to potential investors.
Teenagers were hawking bottled water at the busy intersection.
The company hired influencers to hawk its new energy drink online.
Learner examples
People hawk fruit on the street near the station.
Az állomás közelében az utcán emberek gyümölcsöt kínálgatnak.
He walked around the market to hawk his phone cases.
Körbejárta a piacot, hogy a telefontokjait kínálgassa.
They hawked cold drinks to hot, tired drivers.
The man hawked newspapers on the corner every morning.
She hawks her handmade bags at local fairs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "hawk" with "market" or "advertise". "Hawk" usually suggests more direct, often face-to-face or street-level selling, sometimes a bit annoying or pushy, rather than general advertising.
Meaning
Sell goods aggressively in public
Collocations
hawk goods
|hawk newspapers
|hawk their products
|hawking souvenirs
|street vendors hawk
|hawking wares on the sidewalk
Synonyms
peddle (Very close in meaning; can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned, and can also mean to promote ideas, not just goods.)
Antonyms
buy (Describes the opposite side of the transaction; instead of selling something, you are purchasing it.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
To try hard to sell something, usually by talking to many people or calling out in the street.
To try to sell goods in a loud, forceful, or persistent way, often in public places or by offering them to many different people or organizations.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to hawk [something] up
He hawked up some phlegm and spat it into a tissue.
Felkrákogott egy kis váladékot, és beleköpte egy zsebkendőbe.
She sat in the waiting room, coughing and hawking into a paper cup.
A váróteremben ült, köhögött, és krákogva egy papírpohárba köpött.
The old man loudly hawked something up and cleared his throat.
Allergies made him hawk up thick mucus every morning.
He stepped outside to hawk and spit so he wouldn't bother anyone.
Learner examples
He hawked up mucus and put it in a tissue.
Felkrákogott egy kis nyákot, és beleköpte egy zsebkendőbe.
The man keeps hawking and spitting on the street.
A férfi folyton krákog és köpköd az utcán.
I heard someone hawk loudly in the bathroom.
When I am sick, I sometimes hawk up phlegm.
He went outside to hawk so he did not make noise in the room.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this just means "to cough". "Hawk" is more specific: it is a strong, rough movement to push mucus up, often followed by spitting. It is informal and can sound unpleasant, so it should be used carefully.
Meaning
Cough up mucus or phlegm
Collocations
hawk up phlegm
|hawk something up
|hawking and spitting
|hawk up mucus
|hawk up a glob
|hawk into the sink
Synonyms
spit (More general; does not always include the strong, noisy throat-clearing that "hawk" suggests.)
Antonyms
swallow (Instead of bringing mucus out of the body, you keep it and send it down into the stomach.)
Themes
health
|body
Definition
To make a hard, loud sound in your throat to bring mucus up, often so you can spit.
To clear the throat with a rough, loud sound that forces mucus up from the throat, often in order to spit it out.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
5
Usage pattern:
to hawk for [animals]
Noble families once hawked across these fields in search of game.
Nemes családok egykor ezeken a mezőkön solymásztak vad után kutatva.
He spent his youth learning to hawk with his father and grandfather.
Fiatalságát azzal töltötte, hogy apjától és nagyapjától solymászni tanult.
They would rise before sunrise to hawk for rabbits on the moor.
In the old painting, a lord is shown hawking beside a river.
The tradition of hawking still survives in some rural areas.
Learner examples
Long ago, rich people liked to hawk with trained birds.
Régen a gazdagok szerettek idomított ragadozó madarakkal vadászni.
They went to the open field to hawk for small animals.
Kimentek a nyílt mezőre, hogy apróvadra solymásszanak.
He learned to hawk when he was a boy.
In this story, the king goes out to hawk with his friends.
People do not often hawk in cities today.
Common mistake:
Learners may mix this up with the more common meaning of "hawk" as a bird or as selling things. This verb meaning is rare and usually appears in historical or literary texts about falconry.
Meaning
Hunt using a trained hawk
Collocations
hawk with a falconer
|hawk for rabbits
|hawk in the fields
|hawk with trained birds
|learn to hawk
|hawk at dawn
Synonyms
falcon (As a verb, also means to hunt with a trained bird; "falcon" is slightly more technical and tied to falcons specifically.)
Antonyms
protect (Instead of hunting and killing animals, you keep them safe from harm.)
Themes
animals
|sports
Definition
To go hunting and use a trained hawk to catch animals for you.
To hunt game by using a trained hawk or similar bird of prey to catch animals, as in the sport of falconry.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
vakolótálca
C1
Usage pattern:
a plasterer’s hawk
The plasterer loaded his hawk and began smoothing the wall.
A vakoló habarcsot tett a vakolótálcára, és elkezdte simítani a falat.
She balanced the wet plaster on the hawk as she climbed the ladder.
Miközben felmászott a létrán, a nedves vakolatot a vakolótálcán egyensúlyozta.
Keep your hawk level so the mortar doesn't slide off.
He bought a new stainless-steel hawk and trowel set for the job.
The instructor showed the trainees how to hold the hawk correctly.
Learner examples
The worker puts wet plaster on his hawk.
A munkás nedves vakolatot tesz a vakolótálcájára.
He holds the hawk in one hand and the trowel in the other.
Az egyik kezében a vakolótálcát tartja, a másikban a vakolókanalat.
She buys a new hawk for her plaster work.
Do not drop the hawk; the plaster will fall.
He learns to use a hawk and a trowel in class.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this always refers to the bird. In construction, a "hawk" is a tool, usually called a "plasterer's hawk" in full.
Meaning
Plasterer’s board with handle
Collocations
plasterer's hawk
|trowel and hawk
|load the hawk
|hold the hawk steady
|plaster carried on the hawk
|mix, then place on the hawk
Synonyms
plaster board (A descriptive phrase for the same tool; less standard as a fixed term but understandable.)
Themes
construction
|tools
|work
|housing
Definition
A flat board with a handle that workers use to hold plaster or wet material while they put it on a wall.
A flat, square board with a central handle underneath, used by plasterers or bricklayers to hold and carry small amounts of plaster or mortar while they apply it to walls or surfaces.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hawk
IPA
GB/hˈɔk/
US/hˈɔk/
Syllables & stress
hawk (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hawk)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hawk
- Plural: hawks
Verb
- Base: hawk
- 3rd Person Singular: hawks
- Present Participle: hawking
- Past: hawked
Word family
Forms
hawks
noun
hawking
verb
hawked
verb
Related words
hawkish
adjective
hawker
noun
Advanced or less common
hawkishly
adverb
Expressions
budget hawk
1/bˈʌd͡ʒɪt hˈɔk/
fixed phrase
Strict controller of government spending
A person who carefully checks government spending and wants to keep it very low.
Examples
- The governor is a budget hawk who hates waste.
- Budget hawks criticized the new education plan as too expensive.
- He became known as a budget hawk on the city council.
deficit hawk
1/dˈɛfəsɪt hˈɔk/
fixed phrase
Strict opponent of budget deficits
A person who is very worried about government debt and wants to cut spending or raise taxes to reduce the deficit.
Examples
- As a deficit hawk, she opposed most new spending proposals.
- Deficit hawks in the party demanded a balanced-budget amendment.
- He used to be a deficit hawk but has become more flexible about borrowing.
have eyes like a hawk
1/hˈæv ˈaɪz lˈaɪk ə hˈɔk/
idiom
informal
Have very sharp eyesight
To be able to see very well and notice very small things.
Examples
- My mother has eyes like a hawk and notices every little mess.
- The proofreader must have eyes like a hawk to catch all the errors.
- You'd better hide that better; your sister has eyes like a hawk.
hawk [something] around
1/hˈɔk sˈʌmθɪŋ ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
Offer something for sale widely
To go to many people or companies and try to sell something to them.
Examples
- They spent months hawking the script around Hollywood.
- He hawked his business plan around to several banks.
- Street vendors hawk their goods around the tourist area all day.
hawk [something] up
1/hˈɔk sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
Cough and bring mucus up
To use a strong, rough cough to bring mucus up from your throat, often to spit it out.
Examples
- He hawked up some phlegm and spat it into the sink.
- She kept hawking up thick mucus because of her cold.
- The dust made him hawk up something nasty from his lungs.
hawks and doves
1/hˈɔks ˈænd dˈʌvz/
fixed phrase
Aggressive vs peace-seeking factions
Two kinds of people in politics or economics: hawks want strong, aggressive action; doves want peace or slow, careful action.
Examples
- The president must choose between the advice of hawks and doves on the conflict.
- On the central bank committee, hawks and doves disagreed about raising interest rates.
- The party is split between hawks and doves over foreign policy.
hawks and doves
1/hˈɔks ˈænd dˈʌvz/
fixed phrase
hardliners versus peacemakers
people who want war vs people who want peace
Examples
- The cabinet was divided into hawks and doves on how to respond.
- The article compared the party’s hawks and doves on defense spending.
- In the debate, the hawks and doves argued over the risks of escalation.
inflation hawk
1/ɪnflˈeɪʃən hˈɔk/
fixed phrase
Strict opponent of high inflation
A person, often at a central bank, who wants to keep prices from rising, even if that makes the economy grow more slowly.
Examples
- The new central bank chief is an inflation hawk.
- Inflation hawks argued for sharp interest-rate hikes.
- Her reputation as an inflation hawk reassured investors.
war hawk
1/wˈɔɹ hˈɔk/
fixed phrase
Strong supporter of going to war
A politician or other person who really wants to use military force or go to war.
Examples
- Some senators were labeled war hawks for supporting the invasion.
- He tried to shake his image as a war hawk during the campaign.
- The war hawks pushed hard for a rapid attack.
watch [someone] like a hawk
1/wˈɔt͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌn lˈaɪk ə hˈɔk/
idiom
Watch someone extremely closely
To look at someone all the time and very carefully, usually to control them or make sure they do not do anything wrong.
Examples
- The teacher watched the students like a hawk during the exam.
- Parents often watch their toddlers like a hawk near the swimming pool.
- She felt her boss was watching her like a hawk all week.
hawk one's wares
1/hˈɔk wˈʌnz wˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
Try to sell your goods
To try to sell the things you are offering, often by calling out to people in the street or speaking to many possible buyers.
Examples
- Vendors hawked their wares along the busy waterfront.
- Vendors hawked their wares in the crowded market square.
- He travels from fair to fair hawking his wares.
- Salespeople lined the hallway, hawking their wares to conference attendees.
- Artists lined the street, hawking their wares to passing tourists.
- Outside the stadium, people hawked their wares, from team scarves to hot dogs.