He gave them some ridiculous explanation, and they fell for it 'hook, line and sinker'. [=they believed his explanation completely]
He counted on his friends to 'get' him 'off the hook'. [=to protect him from trouble or punishment]
The phone was 'ringing off the hook' all morning. [=many people called during the morning]
(..) you need to acknowledge... ...that he looks exactly like Mike used to look in high school. We discussed that. I have looked at him. But, honey, this is the thing: You need to hook up with someone new. Yeah, I deserve to have somebody smile at me and tell me I'm pretty. - You do. - Even if it is... (..)2009 17 Again