A hose is a long, flexible tube designed to carry water or other liquids from one place to another. Garden hoses let you water plants far from a spigot, while firefighters use powerful hoses to spray water on burning buildings. The flexibility matters: unlike a rigid pipe, a hose bends and coils, making it easy to store and maneuver around obstacles.

You might hear someone say they got hosed in a deal, meaning they were cheated or treated unfairly. This slang usage suggests being blasted or overwhelmed, like getting hit with a powerful spray of water. If your team loses 42 to 3, you might say you got hosed.

To hose down something means to spray it thoroughly with water, whether you're hosing down a muddy dog or hosing down a dirty driveway.