hook up

1. verb To connect two things. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hook" and "up." We can hook up your car to my truck to try to jumpstart it. Now you just have to hook up the leash and the harness. I've never hooked a trailer up to my truck. What do I need to do first?

2. verb To set up an electronic device or system. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hook" and "up." Can you hook up my TV before you leave? The kids are gonna mutiny if we don't hook up the WiFi soon. I'm trying to hook up the printer, but I can't get it to turn on, which is a problem!

3. verb To meet with someone in order to spend time with them. I hope we'll be able to hook up for coffee or something while you're home for Christmas break. Melissa and I have been trying to hook up forever, but we're both just so busy. Hey, if you're gonna hook up with Henry today, can you give this book back to him?

4. verb To arrange a date for two people. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hook" and "up." Oh, I've been trying to hook Carmen and Bill up for years—I think they'd be great together! Mom, please don't hook me up with any more of your friends' kids. It's just awkward when things inevitably don't work out. A: "So how did you meet your husband?" B: "Oh, my sister hooked us up. They had gone to college together."

5. verb To get married. Do you guys ever plan to hook up after dating for so long? My fiancé wants to hook up in some big, elaborate ceremony, and I really don't. I'm not surprised those two hooked up—I mean, they've been dating since high school.

6. verb To be romantically involved with someone. No, we never hooked up—we're just friends. She's always had a crush on you, dude. Why don't you two hook up already? Yeah, we hooked up in college, but it didn't last long.

7. verb, slang To kiss. I heard Jenny hooked up with Brian. Did you two hook up yet? Come on, they must have hooked up if they now both have mono—the "kissing disease"!

8. verb, slang To have a casual sexual encounter. I can't believe you hooked up with my ex-boyfriend! A: "So when are you gonna tell Marcy you hooked up with her new boyfriend?" B: "Never, because that meant nothing and happened way before they were dating!" I don't like hooking up with guys. I prefer to have actual, meaningful romantic relationships.

9. noun, slang A casual sexual encounter. In this usage, the phrase is often written as one word ("hookup"). It was just a hookup—we're not dating or anything. I thought it would just be a quick summer hookup, but we've been together ever since! I know you think it's just a hookup, but she doesn't. Don't break her heart, OK?

10. noun, slang Someone with whom one has had a casual sexual encounter. In this usage, the phrase is often written as one word ("hookup"). He was just a hookup—we're not dating or anything. I honestly don't remember—it's not like I keep a list of my hookups or something. Why are things so awkward between you two? OMG, was he your secret summer hookup?

See also: hook, up

hook someone or something up

(to someone or something) and hook someone or something up (with someone or something)

1. Lit. to attach someone or something to someone or something. The nurse hooked the patient up to the oxygen tubes. They hooked up the patient with the tubes.

See also: hook, up

hook someone up (with someone)

Fig. to arrange for someone to go out with someone. I hooked Alice up with Tom last year, and now they're getting married.

See also: hook, up

hook something up

to set something up and get it working. (The object is to be connected to a power supply, electronic network, telephone lines, etc.) Will it take long to hook the telephone up? As soon as they hook up the computer to the network, I can e-mail my friends.

See also: hook, up

hook up

1. Assemble or wire a mechanism, as in Dick helped us hook up the stereo system. [1920s]

2. Connect a mechanism with a main source, as in The computer had not yet been hooked up to the mainframe. [1920s]

3. hook up with. Form a tie or association, as in She had hooked up with the wrong crowd. [Slang; mid-1900s]

See also: hook, up

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hook up

1. To connect or attach something to something else: We'll hook up these shelves to that wall. The plumber hooked the pipes up to the shower.

2. To assemble or wire up some mechanism: Could you help me hook up my stereo? Someone from the cable company stopped by to hook the television up.

3. To meet or associate with someone: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd.

4. Slang To get married: We finally hooked up after five years of living together.

5. Slang To become romantically involved with someone: I joined the dating service to try to hook up with someone.

6. Vulgar Slang To become sexually involved with someone.

See also: hook, up

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