by Light Joker September 5, 2005
Get the play hooky mug.Skipping school or work.
Play hooky, 'be absent from school without an excuse', is an Americanism first recorded around 1848. Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms gives this slightly later example: "He moped to school gloomy and sad, and took his flogging, along with Joe Harper, for playing hookey the day before." (Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer) And here's another example showing the extended use of the term: "I played hookey from the Appropriations Committee this morning." (Harry Truman, Dear Bess)
Play hooky is probably derived from the Dutch term hoekje (spelen) 'hide-and-seek'. The Dutch word hoek means 'corner'-- the boys in 17th-century New Amsterdam played this game around the corners of the street. Hide-and-seek was a different game back then--the players had to search for a hidden object. Although play hooky originally referred to the game of hide-and-seek, it also had other meanings in the 17th and 18th centuries. It wasn't until the 19th century that schoolchildren began using play hooky to mean 'skip school.'
It's also been suggested that play hooky comes from the verb hook, euphemistically meaning 'to steal', or from the phrase hook it, meaning 'to escape, run away, make off'. These derivations are unlikely-- the Random House Dictionary of American Slang points out that the term hook it was not used in the United States until after 1848.
Play hooky was originally slang, but now, of course, it's standard English. But you're right in noting that the term isn't used very much anymore.
Play hooky, 'be absent from school without an excuse', is an Americanism first recorded around 1848. Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms gives this slightly later example: "He moped to school gloomy and sad, and took his flogging, along with Joe Harper, for playing hookey the day before." (Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer) And here's another example showing the extended use of the term: "I played hookey from the Appropriations Committee this morning." (Harry Truman, Dear Bess)
Play hooky is probably derived from the Dutch term hoekje (spelen) 'hide-and-seek'. The Dutch word hoek means 'corner'-- the boys in 17th-century New Amsterdam played this game around the corners of the street. Hide-and-seek was a different game back then--the players had to search for a hidden object. Although play hooky originally referred to the game of hide-and-seek, it also had other meanings in the 17th and 18th centuries. It wasn't until the 19th century that schoolchildren began using play hooky to mean 'skip school.'
It's also been suggested that play hooky comes from the verb hook, euphemistically meaning 'to steal', or from the phrase hook it, meaning 'to escape, run away, make off'. These derivations are unlikely-- the Random House Dictionary of American Slang points out that the term hook it was not used in the United States until after 1848.
Play hooky was originally slang, but now, of course, it's standard English. But you're right in noting that the term isn't used very much anymore.
by Eran Yariv May 6, 2006
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Vulpine Acute Hooky is the most popular online chain letter today punching along all over facebook, youtube & other social networks by a friend of a friend's friend.
Kate Punch is a skinny little 12 year old girl w/black hair, dark blue eyes & pale skin sporting fun bright colorful make-up was gutted bloody rot in her sleep the night she started her period by a Creepy Hook-Handed Stranger who was madly infatuated with her… 4 she is the girl.
At the witching hour on Hallows Eve night u can hear the leaves whisper in trees like witches as the murderer chanted “Vulpine Acute Hooky” as he stabbed her bloody dead.
Kate wants revenge! Now that u have read this… in-between the click of the light switch, Kate Punch will enter your dreams tonight 2 hook u bloody rot 2 freaking hell!
Standing next 2 u beside your bed… there’s a fine line between Love & Hate… . staring at u with 1 blue bat of her spider lashes… u smell Candy Apple across her face & with her wickedly cheeky smile that plays around her lips, sharp & perilously, she’ll slice her finger upward with a crafty sharp hook… her bloody red finger dragging & bleeding the word “EVOL’ which is “Love” spelt backwards across your chest. With a twinkle in her eye, she’ll kill u the way the Creepy Hook-Handed Stranger stabbed her 2 death.
Unless, u comment this story to 10 different people, Kate Punch will not harm u. 1 out of 10 people you comment must start her period tonight. If not, you’re screwed… Kate Punch is coming 2 LovE u
Kate Punch is a skinny little 12 year old girl w/black hair, dark blue eyes & pale skin sporting fun bright colorful make-up was gutted bloody rot in her sleep the night she started her period by a Creepy Hook-Handed Stranger who was madly infatuated with her… 4 she is the girl.
At the witching hour on Hallows Eve night u can hear the leaves whisper in trees like witches as the murderer chanted “Vulpine Acute Hooky” as he stabbed her bloody dead.
Kate wants revenge! Now that u have read this… in-between the click of the light switch, Kate Punch will enter your dreams tonight 2 hook u bloody rot 2 freaking hell!
Standing next 2 u beside your bed… there’s a fine line between Love & Hate… . staring at u with 1 blue bat of her spider lashes… u smell Candy Apple across her face & with her wickedly cheeky smile that plays around her lips, sharp & perilously, she’ll slice her finger upward with a crafty sharp hook… her bloody red finger dragging & bleeding the word “EVOL’ which is “Love” spelt backwards across your chest. With a twinkle in her eye, she’ll kill u the way the Creepy Hook-Handed Stranger stabbed her 2 death.
Unless, u comment this story to 10 different people, Kate Punch will not harm u. 1 out of 10 people you comment must start her period tonight. If not, you’re screwed… Kate Punch is coming 2 LovE u
by heDidAveryBadThing July 17, 2010
Get the Vulpine Acute Hooky mug.by Stella S. January 18, 2006
Get the Nookie Hooky mug.Example of to Pull A Hooky:
William mistaked Olive oil for orange squash and mixed it with water in a bottle and approached Rob;
William - "Hey do you know what's happening here? My squash has gone all funny"
Rob - "Hahahaha you just Pulled a Hooky!"
William mistaked Olive oil for orange squash and mixed it with water in a bottle and approached Rob;
William - "Hey do you know what's happening here? My squash has gone all funny"
Rob - "Hahahaha you just Pulled a Hooky!"
by Sandeep G May 18, 2010
Get the Pull A Hooky mug.by H.e.s.s.i. December 30, 2011
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