"I'm not a vagrant... I'm a hobo. Big difference."

"Maybe you'll end up like me, a hobo with a shotgun."
by natalie portmanteaux January 28, 2021
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1. Originally referred to poor, homeless itinerant workers in the USA. These original hobos travelled from town to town seeking temporary employment, usually along the lines of physical labour. They are traditionally associated with freighthopping (illegally riding in the carriages of freight trains). See also drifter, vagabond and okie.

2. Nowadays commonly used throughout the English-speaking world to refer to any homeless person. See also bum, tramp and beggar.
Traditional hobos are often romanticized in popular culture, for example in the books "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and in the music of Woody Guthrie.

The portrayal of modern homeless people, however, is usually much less favourable, with a widespread belief that homelessness is self-inflicted and that these "bums" should "just get jobs".
by backpacker_x2 February 15, 2011
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a hobo is an itinerant worker, a career which sprang up during the depression. A hobo, unlike a bum or a tramp, is more than willing to work, but mostly for a short duration, as their main impetus is travel, the love of the journey above the actual destination. A bum is stationary, feeding off of those unfortunate enough to cross his path; a hobo merely travels from town to town, finding work when he can, but only for the sake of financing his next adventure. NEVER call a hobo a bum...they'll kick your sorry no-bo ass!
"When I first started hobo'in,
I took a freight train to be my friend
-John Lee Hooker
by hoboerotic August 12, 2004
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A free man/woman who is no longer trapped in the society of capitalism and time. He/she can go to sleep whenever he/she wants to, and do anything.
Hobos are good at recycling dumpstered food that huge coporations throws out.
That hobo just found a whole bag of pies in our dumpster!
by Exorph May 26, 2004
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a hobo spends their time riding the rails and is happy with a bottle of beer a gutair and some friends. hobos are not at all to be confused with bumbs and tramps because they are unhappy and bitter about their homeless state and hobos are happy and they make the best of their situation
nothin beats the hobo life stabbin folks with my hobo knife
by hobo man February 6, 2004
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the most kickass people in the world, also the coolest job in the world.

someone who could do something with their lives but don't want to.
I would rather be a hobo
by matt dold January 15, 2004
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hobo = Home Owner Bought Out

it is the acronym for people from 'the Great Depression' who lost their homes when the banks called their loans due (as per the terms of the loan).

All legal, but totally sucks.

Has come to mean many things, mainly derogatory.
Bank: "Mr. Smith, your loan has come due and we are not able to extend you any more credit."

Mr. Smith: "What can I do? The plant closed, my kids are sick and my wife ran off with the ex-plant manager."

Bank: "That's not our problem. Leave or the Sherif will remove you."

Mr. Smith: "Well kids, it's off to the poor house for you, Daddy's a hobo now."

Kids: Boo, hoo. . . .
by JP4u November 17, 2009
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