- Primarily used in informal, especially North American English, to mean engaging in casual sexual activity with someone. The extent of activity can range from kissing/making out to sexual intercourse, often without the expectation of a committed relationship.
- It *can* occasionally retain older meanings like meet up with someone or connect devices, but the sexual connotation is now dominant and often assumed, especially among younger people.
Explanation
Origin
- Originally meant to physically connect things (e.g., hook up a trailer, hook up the stereo).
- In the mid-to-late 20th century, it started being used to mean connecting *people* – initially just meeting or getting together (Let's hook up later).
- Through youth and college culture, particularly in the US from the 1990s onwards, it increasingly took on a specifically sexual meaning, referring to casual encounters.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (Casual Sex):
- Get laid / Get some (action)
- Smash / Bang / Bone (crude)
- Fool around / Mess around / Play around
- Get it on / Do it / Do the deed
- Netflix and chill (coded invitation)
- Shag (UK/Aus slang)
- Score / Get lucky (somewhat dated)
Slang/Informal (Meet/Connect):
- Meet up / Get together
- Link up / Connect (with)
- Hang out
Vulgar/Emphatic (Casual Sex):
- Fuck
Milder/Formal (Meet/Connect):
- Meet / Arrange to meet
- Connect / Network (professional context)
Situational Appropriateness
- Sexual Meaning: Highly informal. Common in casual conversations among friends, particularly younger adults discussing social/dating lives. Inappropriate in formal, professional, or polite company.
- Meet/Connect Meaning: Informal. Increasingly risky due to the dominant sexual meaning; safer to use meet up or get together.
- Device Meaning: Neutral, informal to semi-formal.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Extremely high potential for misunderstanding between the sexual meaning and the older meet up / connect meanings.
- Assume the sexual meaning is implied or possible in social contexts unless the context absolutely confirms otherwise (like connecting electronics).
- Non-native speakers and different generations should use meet up or get together for non-sexual meetings to avoid ambiguity and potential awkwardness or offense.
Examples
- (Sexual) I heard they hooked up at Sarah's party.
- (Sexual) He's on Tinder just looking to hook up.
- (Ambiguous/Older Use Use Caution!) We should hook up for drinks sometime. (Could be misunderstood as sexual interest).
- (Non-sexual) Can you help me hook up this printer?
Dialogue
Scenario 1 (Sexual):
Friend A: You will NOT believe who hooked up last night!
Friend B: Who?!
Friend A: Mark and Lisa! Saw them leaving the bar together.
Friend B: Wow, didn't see that coming.
Scenario 2 (Ambiguous Potential Misunderstanding):
Person A: Hey, it was great catching up. We should hook up again soon.
Person B: (Unsure of intent) Oh... uh, yeah, maybe grab coffee?
Person A: Yeah, sounds good! (Clarifies non-sexual intent)
Social Media Examples
- Tweet (Sexual): College parties basically revolve around who's hooking up with who. #CollegeLife #drama
- Dating Profile Snippet: Not here just to hook up.
- Post (Meet Up Use Cautiously): Anyone in London wanna hook up for a coffee this week? DM me! #travel #meetup (Might attract unwanted attention).
- Post (Device): Can someone tech-savvy help me hook up my new sound system? Offering pizza as payment! #techhelp
Response Patterns
- Sexual context: Surprise (No way!), gossip (Tell me everything!), judgment/disapproval, nonchalance (Cool), seeking clarification (Like, *hooked up* hooked up?).
- Meet up context: Agreement (Sure, when?), confirmation (You mean just meet?).
- Connect devices context: Offer of help (Yeah, let me see), instructions.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Sexual context: Asking for details (who, when, where, how far things went), discussing implications for relationships, sharing opinions.
- Meet up context: Arranging time and place.
- Connect devices context: Proceeding with the connection.
Conversation Starter
- Can be used to initiate gossip (Did you hear who hooked up...?).
- Can be used (carefully!) to suggest meeting (Want to hook up later?).
- Can be used (very informally) to proposition someone (Wanna hook up?).
Intonation
- Can be gossipy, suggestive, casual, or neutral depending on context and intent.
- Stress often on hooked or up. Did they hook up?
Generation Differences
- The strong sexual connotation is dominant for Millennials and Gen Z.
- Older generations (Gen X, Boomers) might still use it more often to mean meet up or connect devices and may be unaware of or uncomfortable with the prevalent sexual meaning, leading to misunderstandings.
Regional Variations
- The sexual meaning is particularly strong and widespread in North American English (US/Canada).
- In the UK, Australia, etc., while the term is understood (often via media), native speakers might more commonly use get off with, snog (kiss), shag, sleep with, or get together depending on the specific action and context. Using hook up to mean meet up might be slightly less ambiguous outside North America but still carries risk.