General
hooky
What does hooky mean?
Truancy — cutting class or ducking out of work. 'Playing hooky' is taking an unauthorized day off.
"We played hooky and went to Coney Island."
Origin
19th-century American slang strongly associated with NYC; possibly from Dutch 'hoekje' (hide-and-seek) or 'hook it' (to flee).
Frequently asked questions
What does 'playing hooky' mean?
It means skipping school or work without permission — taking an unauthorized day off.
Where does the word 'hooky' come from?
It's 19th-century American slang strongly associated with NYC, possibly from the Dutch 'hoekje' (hide-and-seek) or the phrase 'hook it' meaning to flee.
How do you use 'hooky' in a sentence?
Usually with 'play,' as in 'We played hooky and went to Coney Island.'
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