1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, The Ladies’ Gallery, ch. i. I think the chaps that are always hammering on about repentance and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong end. Hammer-and-Tongs, adv. phr. (common).—Very violently; ding-dong. 1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress were at it hammer and tongs. 1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at it, hammer and tongs. 1837. Marryat, Snarleyow. Ods bobs! Hammer and Tongs! long as I’ve been to sea. 1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon them hammer and tongs 1862. M. E. Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at it hammer and tongs.’ 1884. Jas. Payn, Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at it hammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything. Hammer-headed, adj. (common).—1. Oafish; stupid. 1600. Nashe, Summers Last Will (Grosart), vi., 169. A number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers, hammer-headed clownes. 2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped: i.e., long and narrow in the head. 1865. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage consisted of a long hammer-headed old horse, formerly used in the business ... a driver being added in the person of a long hammer-headed young man. Hammering, subs. (pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessive punishment (q.v.). 2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’). Hammering-trade, subs. (pugilistic).—Pugilism. 1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if made, express, by Nature for the hammering trade. Hammersmith. To go to Hammersmith, verb. phr. (common).—To get a sound drubbing. Hampered, adj. (old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [From Old. Eng., hamper = a fetter: see quot. 1613]. 1613. Browne, Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles, shacklockes, hampers, gives and chaines. 1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. 1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hampstead Donkey, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. For synonyms, see Chates. c. 1870. Daily Paper. The witness testified to the filthy state of the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was told not to get into bed until she had looked for the Hampstead donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’ Hampstead-heath, subs. phr. (rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms, see Grinders. 1887. Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And of Hampstead Heath two rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened Like two pretty strings of pearls.