Hook up
Meaning: To have a casual sexual encounter with someone; can also mean to meet up or connect.
The meaning of 'hook up' is deliberately vague — it can refer to anything from kissing to sex, depending on context and who's talking. This ambiguity is often intentional, allowing people to share that something happened without providing specific details. In non-romantic contexts, 'hook up' can simply mean to connect or set someone up ('hook me up with tickets').
Examples
- They hooked up at the party last night. 他们昨晚在派对上搞在一起了。Se liaron en la fiesta de anoche.昨夜のパーティーで二人はフックアップした。어젯밤 파티에서 둘이 훅업했대.
- We're not dating — we just hooked up once. 我们没在交往——只是搞过一次。No estamos saliendo — solo nos liamos una vez.付き合ってるんじゃない——一度フックアップしただけ。사귀는 건 아니야 — 한 번 훅업했을 뿐이야.
- Can you hook me up with that contact at the company? 你能帮我搭个线,介绍一下那家公司的联系人吗?¿Me puedes conseguir ese contacto en la empresa?あの会社のコネ、紹介してくれない?그 회사 담당자 좀 연결해 줄 수 있어?
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: dating, casual encounters, college, general connections
Tone: casual, vague
✓ Do Say
- We hooked up last weekend.我们上周末搞在一起了。Nos liamos el fin de semana pasado.先週末フックアップしたんだ。지난 주말에 훅업했어.
- Can you hook me up with free tickets?你能帮我弄几张免费的票吗?¿Me puedes conseguir entradas gratis?無料チケット手配してくれない?무료 티켓 좀 구해줄 수 있어?
✗ Don't Say
- The sexual meaning is context-dependent — 'hook up' in a business context just means connecting people. Be aware of which meaning your listener will assume性方面的含义取决于语境——在商务场合'hook up'只是联系人的意思。要注意听者会理解哪个含义El significado sexual depende del contexto — 'hook up' en un contexto profesional simplemente significa poner en contacto a personas. Ten en cuenta qué significado asumirá tu interlocutor性的な意味は文脈次第——ビジネスの文脈での「hook up」は単に人をつなげるという意味。相手がどちらの意味で受け取るか注意すること성적 의미는 맥락에 따라 다르다 — 비즈니스 상황에서 'hook up'은 단순히 사람을 연결해 준다는 뜻이다. 상대가 어떤 의미로 받아들일지 주의할 것
Origin & History
The sexual meaning of 'hook up' became common in American English in the 1990s and 2000s, particularly on college campuses. The term's deliberate vagueness made it useful for discussing intimate encounters without being explicit.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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