hijack
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to take control of a plane, ship, or truck by force while it is moving.
v.to forcibly seize control of a vehicle in transit, typically an aircraft, ship, or truck, for robbery or political purposes.
Simple“The criminals tried to hijack the truck to steal the expensive electronics inside.”
In context“Security protocols were significantly tightened after the attempt to hijack the commercial flight was thwarted by the crew.”
UsageTransitive; always takes a direct object representing the vehicle or its occupants.
Synonymsseizecommandeer - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to take control of a meeting or a conversation and change the topic to what you want to talk about.
v.to seize control of a process, resource, or discussion to achieve a purpose other than the original intent.
Simple“He tried to hijack the meeting to talk about his own project instead.”
In context“The activist group was accused of attempting to hijack the public forum to promote their specific political agenda.”
UsageOften used metaphorically in business and political contexts.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an event where someone takes control of a vehicle or a process by force.
n.an instance of illegal seizure of a vehicle or the redirection of a process.
Simple“The news reported a daring hijack of a cargo ship in the ocean.”
In context“The failed hijack resulted in a tense standoff between the authorities and the suspects at the airport perimeter.”
UsageCountable noun.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.in the game of poker, the seat two places to the left of the dealer.
n.the position two seats to the right of the button (dealer), situated between the cutoff and the lojack.
Simple“He decided to raise his bet because he was sitting in the hijack.”
In context“Aggressive players often use the hijack position to steal the blinds before the action reaches the button.”
Teacher's tipThis is highly specialized jargon used almost exclusively by poker players.
SynonymsHJ
Possibly from a blend of highway + jacker (“one who holds up”) (1915).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.