hitch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- problem, catch, difficulty, drawback, hindrance, hold-up, impediment, obstacle, snag
[verb]
Synonyms:
- fasten, attach, connect, couple, harness, join, tether, tie
- hitchhike, thumb a lift
- hitch up: pull up, jerk, tug, yank

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Antonyms: unhitch
Contrasted words: free, release, unfasten, uncouple, unharness, unyoke
Related Idioms: make fast

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English Thesaurus: setback, snag, hitch, trouble, hassle, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. hitch¹ /hɪtʃ/ verb

1. [intransitive and transitive] informal to get free rides from the drivers of passing cars by standing at the side of the road and putting a hand out with the thumb raised Synonym : hitchhike
hitch across/around/to
He plans to hitch right round the coast of Ireland.
hitch a ride/lift (with somebody)
We hitched a ride with a trucker.

2. [transitive] (also hitch up) to move a piece of clothing you are wearing so that it is higher than it was before:
She hitched her skirt above her knees and knelt down.

3. get hitched informal to get married:
They got hitched without telling their parents.

4. [transitive] (also hitch up) to lift yourself into a higher position by pushing with your hands
hitch yourself (up) onto/on something
Gail hitched herself up onto the high stool.

5.
a) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to fasten something to something else, using a rope, chain etc
hitch something to something
He hitched our pickup to his trailer.
a goat hitched to a fence
b) [transitive] (also hitch up) to fasten an animal to something with wheels so that the animal can pull it forwards:
I hitched up the horse and drove out into the fields.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. hitch² noun [countable]

1. a small problem that makes something difficult or delays it for a short time
technical/slight/last-minute hitch
In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success.
The whole show went without a hitch.

REGISTER
In written English, people usually prefer to use (small/minor) problem rather than hitch, which sounds slightly informal:
There were some minor technical problems when the product was first released.

2. a type of knot:
a half hitch

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. hitch‧hike /ˈhɪtʃhaɪk/ (also hitch) verb [intransitive]
to travel to places by getting free rides from drivers of passing cars
hitchhike around/to/across etc
She spent her gap year hitchhiking around the world.
—hitchhiker noun [countable]:
I picked up a hitchhiker on our way back.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

hitch
noun
ADJ. slight | last-minute There are always a few last-minute hitches at the dress rehearsal.
legal, technical There was a slight technical hitch which delayed the plane's take-off.
PREP. without a ~ Everything went without a hitch.
~ in There's been a hitch in the plans.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

setback a problem that stops you from making progress:
The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.
snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected:
There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.
hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something:
There have been a few last-minute hitches.
trouble when something does not work in the way it should:
The plane developed engine trouble.
hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems:
Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.
tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp:
She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper.
I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package.
Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you:
He bent down and split his trousers.
Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
ladder British English if a woman ladders her tights or STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them:
Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine:
In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements.
I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot:
He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans.
The rug was a little frayed around the edges.
The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲