The word hack

I’ve always thought ‘tip’ usually means the same thing. Goodness where ‘hack’ came from in this context.

I’ve known it only as in riding (a horse), or in the expression, ‘can’t hack it’, as in unable to cope with something.

I can’t hack the hacks that appear daily on my Google home page from folk claiming to be professional cooks, cleaners, supermarket workers etc. All professing to know some wonderful tip or shortcut which has allegedly gone viral since it was revealed.

I’ve seen some truly groundbreaking examples such as the professional cleaner who revealed her secret hack for cleaning a pair of Crocs after walking on the beach…immerse them in a bucket of warm soapy water!

Or the supermarket worker who published her secret hack for avoiding supermarket queues. You’ll never be able to guess this ingenious hack …avoid going at peak times! ?

Think it 'arrived' here many years ago and I recognise quite a few of the meanings suggested here.

I think hack is an American expression which has now arrived in the UK and means 'tip' as in 'helpful idea' not the money you give to your hairdresser.

grumppa

I thought a hack was a not very good journalist.

Ditto

Also a hack on a horse
Hack down the overgrown ivy
Hack away at a tough steak
Hack as in cyber attack.

I thought a hack was a not very good journalist.

Also used in some military circles when synchronising timepieces, as in "Coming up to 08:15 in 3...2...1...hack!"

I’ve never heard it used in the context of ‘idea’.

I’ve been on a hack with some horses.

I sometimes can’t hack something difficult.

and my FB page was hacked.

Well I often say I can’t hack it meaning I can’t take it / can’t do it that’s how it’s used around here

I guess it comes from hack to cut down, as in cut down on time used to do something.