hare
a fast-running wild animal
A wild animal like a large rabbit, with very long ears and legs, that runs very fast and lives in open fields.
- We saw a hare sprint across the field and disappear into the tall grass.
- The brown hare is becoming less common in some parts of the country.
- Hares rely on their speed and sharp hearing to escape foxes and other predators.
- In winter, the mountain hare’s fur turns white to match the snow.
- The study showed a sharp decline in the local hare population over the last decade.
- A hare ran across the road in front of our car.
- The dog chased a hare in the field.
- Hares have very long ears and strong back legs.
- We read a story about a hare and a tortoise in class.
- There are not many hares in this area now.
to run or rush very fast
To go somewhere very fast, usually suddenly and without thinking much.
to hare [adverb] / to hare [adverb] [to/from place]
- She suddenly hares off down the street as soon as she sees the bus coming.
- The kids spent the afternoon haring around the park, shouting and laughing.
- He hared back to the office when he realized he had left his laptop behind.
- A cyclist came haring past us without warning.
- Don’t just hare off; sit down and think about it first.
- He hared off when he heard his name.
- The children are haring around the garden.
- She hared back home to get her phone.
- A car was haring down the road very fast.
- Don’t hare off; we still need to talk.
- Base: hare
- Plural: hare, hares
- Base: hare
- 3rd Person Singular: hares
- Present Participle: haring
- Past: hared
hare around
1rush around in a restless way
To move quickly from place to place in a busy or noisy way, often without a clear plan.
- She spent the morning haring around town doing last-minute shopping.
- I’ve been haring around all day trying to get everything ready for the trip.
- Instead of haring around the office, sit down and organize your tasks.
hare off
1leave suddenly and very fast
To suddenly go away from a place very quickly, often without thinking much first.
- As soon as the bell rang, the students hared off towards the cafeteria.
- He hared off to the station when he realized his train was in ten minutes.
- Don’t just hare off the moment you finish; we still need your help.
mad as a March hare
1behaving in a crazy, wild way
To behave in a very strange, noisy, or wild way, as if you are crazy.
- The kids were mad as a March hare after all that sugar at the party.
- He starts talking about his latest plan, and honestly he sounds mad as a March hare.
- By the end of the night, everyone at the festival was mad as a March hare.
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
1try to support opposing sides
To try to be friendly with two sides that are against each other, so you do not have to choose one side.
- Voters accused the minister of trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds on the tax issue.
- You can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds; you must take a clear position.
- The company seems to be running with the hare and hunting with the hounds by supporting both workers and their opponents only when it suits them.
start a hare
1cause a new line of discussion
To say or do something that makes people start talking a lot about a new question or problem.
- His comment about budget cuts started a hare that ran through the whole meeting.
- I don’t want to start a hare, but has anyone checked the safety reports?
- The article started a hare about privacy that other journalists quickly followed.