hook
1 of 2verb/hʊk/
Forms:hooks,hooking,hooked,hooked
1
to attach or secure something by means of a curved or angled object
C1transitive- She hooked her keys onto the belt loop of her jeans.
- The fisherman skillfully hooked the bait onto the fishing line.
- She quickly hooked her bra before getting dressed.
- He hooked the leash onto the dog's collar before taking it for a walk.
- She carefully hooked the necklace around her neck.
Antonyms:
2
(cricket) to play a shot by hitting the ball delivered by the bowler with the bat held horizontally and swinging it in a downward direction towards the leg side
transitive- The batsman expertly hooked the short ball from the fast bowler over the square leg boundary for six.
- He got into position quickly and hooked the ball fiercely, sending it racing towards the boundary.
- The bowler tried to unsettle the batsman with a short delivery, but he was ready and hooked it powerfully for four runs.
- The batsman's ability to hook the short ball effectively made him a dangerous player against fast bowlers.
- With the fielders placed on the off side, the batsman saw an opportunity and hooked the ball over the leg side for four.
3
to create stitches and fabric by pulling loops of yarn through other loops using a crochet hook
transitive- The crocheter's hands moved swiftly as she hooked loops of yarn.
- He watched a tutorial to learn how to hook clusters of stitches to form a textured pattern.
- After finishing the row, she turned her work and hooked a row of double crochet stitches across.
- He carefully hooked the yarn through each loop, creating a beautifully textured pattern on the baby blanket.
- The crochet pattern instructed her to hook two loops together to create a decrease stitch.
Synonyms:
4
to offer sexual services in exchange for money or other forms of payment
- She started hooking at a young age to support her drug addiction.
- Despite the risks involved, she continued hooking to support her lavish lifestyle.
- He was arrested for hooking in a known red-light district.
5
to draw someone in or trap them in a manipulative or compelling manner
transitive- The charismatic cult leader hooked vulnerable individuals with promises of enlightenment and belonging.
- The salesman hooked customers with persuasive pitches and enticing offers.
- The politician hooked voters with promises of positive change and prosperity.
- The scam artist hooked unsuspecting victims with false promises of wealth and success.
- The company hooked employees with enticing benefits and perks to retain their loyalty.
Synonyms:
6
(in rugby) to pass the ball back in a scrum or to move it along the ground
transitive- The scrum-half hooked the ball cleanly out of the scrum and passed it swiftly to the fly-half.
- The player skillfully hooked the ball with his foot and directed it towards the waiting forward.
- Facing intense pressure from the opposing pack, the hooker struggled to hook the ball cleanly.
- The scrum-half's quick reflexes allowed him to hook the ball before the opposing team could gain possession.
- Despite the muddy conditions, the hooker was able to hook the ball cleanly and distribute it to his teammates.
7
to make someone addicted or strongly attached to a habit or substance
transitive- The thrilling storyline of the TV series hooked him, and he binge-watched the entire season in one weekend.
- The addictive nature of social media platforms can hook users.
- The first hit of nicotine from a cigarette can hook people on smoking for years.
- The catchy melody and infectious rhythm of the song hooked listeners, making it an instant hit.
- The euphoric effects of the drug quickly hooked him, leading to a downward spiral of addiction.
Synonyms:
8
to catch something with a tool in the shape of a sharp curve or crook
transitive- The fisherman patiently waited for a bite, hoping to hook a big bass.
- She deftly cast her line into the water and soon felt a tug as she hooked a trout.
- The cat attempted to hook the toy mouse with its claws, but it slipped away.
- The angler skillfully hooked the fish, reeling it in with precision.
9
(in hockey) to use one's stick to impede or trip an opponent
transitive- The forward narrowly avoided a breakaway when the defender attempted to hook him from behind.
- The referee's whistle blew as the player was caught hooking the opponent's stick during a scoring chance.
- The referee called a penalty when the player hooked the opponent's skate, causing them to lose balance and fall.
- The referee penalized the defenseman for hooking the opposing forward as they attempted to drive towards the net.
- Despite the referee's warnings, the player continued to hook opponents in an attempt to disrupt their offensive plays.
10
to steal or take something unlawfully
transitive- The thief hooked the wallet from the unsuspecting tourist's back pocket.
- He hooked a candy bar from the convenience store without paying for it.
- She hooked a pair of earrings from the jewelry store and slipped them into her pocket.
- The pickpocket skillfully hooked the phone from the distracted commuter's bag.
- He hooked some cash from his roommate's wallet while he was asleep.