hare
A wild animal like a large rabbit, with very long ears and legs, that runs very fast and lives in open fields.
A fast-running wild mammal related to the rabbit, with long ears and legs, that lives in open fields and does not usually dig burrows.
To go somewhere very fast, usually suddenly and without thinking much.
To run or rush somewhere very quickly, especially in a sudden or careless way.
- 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.