hit the books

verb

To study, especially with particular intensity.

“They go to the beach when they should be hitting the books and then they wonder why they get bad grades.”

Similar
study
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Meanings

verbhit the books (third-person singular simple present hits the books, present participle hitting the books, simple past and past participle hit the books)

present singular third person hits the books · participle present hitting the books

  1. AustraliaUSfigurativelyinformalTo study, especially with particular intensity.

    They go to the beach when they should be hitting the books and then they wonder why they get bad grades.

Synonyms & antonyms

verblearn by reading books

Similar
study
Broader
learnlarnacquire
Also see
study

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Czech šrotit, šprtat
  • šrotitstudy
  • šprtatstudy
Polish uczyć się pilnie, przysiąść do książek
  • uczyć się pilniestudy
  • przysiąść do książekstudy
Romanian pune pe învățat
  • pune pe învățatstudy
Russian зубри́ть
  • зубри́ть (zubrítʹ)study
Spanish hincar los codos
  • hincar los codosstudy
Cite this entry
APA

hit the books. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20the%20books

MLA

“hit the books.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20the%20books. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hit the books,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20the%20books.

Source: hit the books on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.