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]
(..) Look! A boy! There's a boy in the water! LT.NORRINGTON: Man overboard! Man the ropes. Fetch a hook. Haul him aboard. He's still breathing. Mary, Mother of God. GOV.SWANN: What happened here? (..)2003 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl