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View synonyms for hooky

hooky

1
or hook·ey

[ hook-ee ]

noun

  1. unjustifiable absence from school, work, etc. (usually used in the phrase play hooky ):

    On the first warm spring day the boys played hooky to go fishing.



hooky

2

[ hook-ee ]

adjective

, hook·i·er, hook·i·est.
  1. full of hooks. hook.
  2. hook-shaped.

hooky

/ ˈhʊkɪ /

noun

  1. informal.
    truancy, usually from school (esp in the phrase play hooky )


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Word History and Origins

Origin of hooky1

1840–50, Americanism; perhaps alteration of phrase hook it escape, make off

Origin of hooky2

First recorded in 1545–55; hook 1 + -y 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of hooky1

C20: perhaps from hook it to escape

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Idioms and Phrases

see play hooky .

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Example Sentences

Stand up and pivot your turns in bumps and crud, though, and the M6 feels like you’re on a longer radius ski, meaning it remains plenty agile without feeling hooky.

When she and Isaiah started fighting, she rebelled by playing hooky.

The Pure favors high speeds in wide-open terrain, with a long turn radius underfoot that yields predictability in weird backcountry snow where too much sidecut gets hooky.

That hourglass shape delivers the carving sensation on groomers but can make skis hooky and unpredictable in unconsolidated backcountry snow, especially when a crust forms.

If any of the major players play hooky, then we all will suffer.

I joined the ranks of experts and students playing session-hooky in the hallways.

They even tacked an extra day onto the jaunt, playing hooky that Tuesday.

Many American kids are returning to the classroom today after a summer playing hooky.

Hooky indicates an inability to create stories that take place in and around school and, therefore, a dearth of inspiration.

I think there comes a time, in creative work, for playing hooky.

Wish I could make up my mind, he said, like a boy in some doubt how he can best put in his time when he plays hooky.

His coal-black, glossy hair commanded and obtained her admiration, and she found his hooky nose to be handsome.

That he naturally despised the articles of such a soulless faith was evident in his constant inclination to play hooky.

It wasnt the usual playing hooky from school case that the judge was taking up now.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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