h-hour

H-Hour is the moment the operation begins.

Definition

Noun: "h-hour" refers to the specific, predetermined time at which a military operation or important event is scheduled to begin. It is often used in military contexts to denote the moment of attack or commencement of a mission.

Usage Examples

• (The specific time for the operation to start.)
• (The operation's start time was planned for early morning.)

Advanced Usage

• "H-hour minus": a term used to indicate time before the scheduled start.

  • All units must be ready at H-hour minus 30 minutes. (Troops need to be prepared half an hour before the operation begins.)

• "H-hour plus": a term used to indicate time after the scheduled start.

  • Reinforcements will arrive at H-hour plus one hour. (Additional forces come one hour after the operation starts.)

Variants and Related Words

• D-Day (n): the day on which a military operation is launched.

  • D-Day and H-hour are often used together in planning. (The specific day and time of an operation.)

• Zero hour (n): another term for the time a military operation starts.

  • The soldiers waited nervously for zero hour. (They anticipated the exact start time.)

Synonyms

• Start time: the moment when something begins.
• Commencement: the beginning of an event or action.

Related Idioms

• "Strike at the appointed hour": to act at the exact scheduled time.

  • The navy planned to strike at the appointed hour. (They would attack precisely when planned.)

• "The moment of truth": a critical time when something important happens or is decided.

  • H-hour was the moment of truth for the entire mission. (The start time determined the operation's success.)