hook
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Related to hook: hook up
hook
1. noun, slang A means of captivating or attracting others, especially a potential customer or consumer; a gimmick. The movie's hook at the time was its incredible computer-generated graphics. Unfortunately, the visual effects look pretty laughable by today's standards. You've always got to have a hook when you're trying to sell something. A mystery with a good hook will always suck me in.
2. verb, slang To attract (someone). The company offers a huge range of benefits in order to hook the most talented people in the industry. If you want to be a model, you need to have impressive headshots to hook a prominent agent in the industry. Quite honestly, the house won't hook any buyers in its current ramshackle state.
3. verb, slang To captivate (someone). Her latest novel hooked me from the very first page. Mom, he's a known con man. Don't let him hook you with these bogus get-rich-quick schemes. Peter hooked the audience with the exciting tales of his world travels.
4. verb, informal To addict (someone). He got hooked on heroin in college. Well, if you never smoke, you'll never get hooked—see how that works? He says he's not hooked, but I think he smokes weed most days.
5. verb, informal To prostitute oneself. It's not uncommon to see women hooking in this area at night. From what I heard, she gave up hooking and went back to school. Ew, you creep! I'm not out here hooking—I'm waiting for the bus!
hook it
1. To flee or run away. Primarily heard in UK. We hooked it when we heard police sirens advancing. The would-be burglars hooked it as soon as they triggered the security alarm. We've committed our troops to this cause, and we will not hook it just because the path has proved difficult.
2. To solicit and accept a car ride from someone, usually a stranger; to hitchhike. The phrase refers to the thumb (used to attract a passing driver's attention) as a "hook." If the bus isn't running today, what are we going to do, hook it? We didn't have any money for a taxi, so we had to hook it to get to the train station. We can't hook it! Are you trying to get us home or get us killed?
See also: hook
hooked
slang
1. Addicted to a particular substance or activity. Yeah, I used to be hooked, but my gambling days are long behind me. I've smoked pot before, but I'm not hooked or anything. The boss is hooked on caffeine, so, if you want a favorable response, don't go in there until he's had at least one coffee.
2. Very interested in or infatuated with someone or something; constantly desiring more of or more time with someone or something. I never thought I'd like a show like Game of Thrones, but I just finished the first season and I'm hooked. Oh, Dave's eyes light up whenever you're around—he's definitely hooked. The new bakery in town makes these amazing cupcakes, and I'm totally hooked.
hooks
slang One's hands. Get your damn hooks off of me—who do you think you are? I can never open tiny clasps like this with these giant hooks of mine. Have you seen Tom's clumsy hooks? The guy could never be a surgeon, that's for sure!
See also: hook
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
hook it
run away. British informalSee also: hook
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
hook
1. tv. to cheat someone. Watch the clerk in that store. He might try to hook you.
2. tv. to steal something. Lefty hooked a couple of candy bars just for the hell of it.
3. tv. to addict someone (to something). (Not necessarily drugs.) The constant use of bicarb hooked him to the stuff.
4. n. the grade of C. I didn’t study at all and I still got a hook!
5. tv. to earn or pull the grade of C on something in school. History? I hooked it without any trouble.
hook it
tv. to get a ride by hitchhiking. (The hook is the thumb. Compare to foot it.) My car broke down and I had to hook it home.
See also: hook
hooked
verbhooked
verbhooks
n. the hands. (see also meathooks. Probably a shortening of shit hooks.) Don’t stand there with your hooks in your pocket. Get busy!
See also: hook
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- (as) crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
- (as) crooked as a fish hook
- be given the hook
- be let off the hook
- be off the hook
- be on the hook
- be ringing off the hook
- by hook or (by) crook
- by hook or by crook
- by hook or crook
- crooked as a barrel of fish hooks
- drop off the hooks
- fall for (someone or something) hook, line, and sinker
- fall for someone hook, line and sinker
- fall for something hook, line and sinker
- get (one) off the hook
- get (one's) hooks in
- get (one's) hooks into (someone or something)
- get hooks in
- get one's hooks into someone
- get one's hooks into something
- get somebody off the hook
- get the ax
- get the hook
- get your hooks into somebody
- get your hooks into someone
- give (someone) the hook
- go off the hooks
- hook
- hook (something) onto (someone or something)
- hook down
- hook in
- hook in(to something)
- hook into
- hook it
- hook on
- hook oneself on
- hook shop
- hook something down
- hook up
- hook up with
- hook up with (someone)
- hook, line and sinker
- hook, line, and sinker
- hooks
- let (one) off the hook
- let somebody off the hook
- let someone off the hook
- meathooks
- off the hook
- off the hook, to get/to be let
- off the hooks
- on (one's) own hook
- on (one's) own initiative
- on one's own account
- on one's own hook
- on own hook
- on tenterhooks
- on the hook
- on the hook for
- on your own hook
- pop off the hooks
- ring off the hook
- sink the hook
- sky hook
- skyhook
- sling (one's) hook
- sling your hook
- swallow (something) hook, line, and sinker
- swallow hook, line, and sinker
- wriggle off the hook
- you need to bait the hook to catch the fish