Meaning & use
hammer home
Last updated
Meaning
verbtransitive
to make a point or idea very clear by repeating it or explaining it forcefully
Grammar: Takes an object; the object can go between 'hammer' and 'home' or after 'home': hammer the point home / hammer home the point.
Patterns
- hammer something home
- hammer home something
- hammer home that ...
The teacher hammered home the importance of checking your work.
He hammered home his message with a series of shocking statistics.
The coach hammered the point home that no one is bigger than the team.
Word forms
| third person singular | hammers home |
|---|---|
| past tense | hammered home |
| past participle | hammered home |
| -ing form | hammering home |
Common combinations
- hammer home a point
- She hammered home the point that safety comes first.
- hammer home a message
- The advertisement hammers home the message that time is precious.
- hammer home the fact that
- The report hammers home the fact that we need to act now.
- hammer something home to someone
- He tried to hammer the idea home to his students.
Synonyms and how they differ
- emphasize
- More formal and neutral; it means to give special importance to something, but does not suggest the forceful repetition of 'hammer home'.
- stress
- Similar but often used for single words or syllables as well as ideas; 'hammer home' is more vivid and implies persistence.
- drive home
- Very close in meaning, but 'drive home' is slightly more neutral and can also mean to hit a nail completely.
Opposites
Word family
- hammer verb
- to hit something repeatedly with a hammer or with force
Commonly confused: hammer home or hammer in?
hammer home vs hammer in
Means to force something into a place by hitting it, e.g. hammer in a nail. 'Hammer home' is only about making an idea clear.
Practice
The manager ______ the need for punctuality by arriving early every day.
Choose one answer.
'Hammered home' means made the need very clear. 'Hammered in' means forced something into place with a hammer; 'hammered out' means reached an agreement after discussion; 'hammered on' means hit repeatedly or talked about something at length.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hammer home”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.