chokey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Humorous, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “chokey” mean?
Prison or detention.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Prison or detention.
A slang term for jail, confinement, or a restrictive situation. Also used historically for a small lock-up or guardroom.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British slang term. Virtually unused in modern American English.
Connotations
In BrE, carries connotations of Victorian-era prisons, schoolboy stories, or lighthearted hyperbole about being confined. In AmE, if understood at all, it would be via British media.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern BrE, mostly literary/historical or jocular. Extremely rare in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “chokey” in a Sentence
[BE/get/end up] in (the) chokey[put/throw/send] [someone] in (the) chokeyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chokey” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He was afraid he'd end up in chokey for the robbery.
- The headmaster threatened a night in the chokey for disobedience.
American English
- In the Dickens novel, the character spent years in chokey. (recognised as British)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Metaphorically for 'restrictive regulations' (e.g., 'The new data rules will put us in financial chokey').
Academic
Used historically in literature or social history texts discussing Victorian penal systems.
Everyday
Jocular or hyperbolic use among BrE speakers (e.g., 'If I'm late again, my wife will put me in chokey!').
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chokey”
- Using 'chokey' as a verb (e.g., 'He was chokeyed' – incorrect).
- Confusing with 'choky' meaning suffocating.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, etymologically. It comes from Hindi 'chaukī' (a shed, station), but its use in British slang was influenced by 'choky' meaning a cramped, suffocating place, akin to choking.
No, it would sound very unusual and British. Americans would use 'jail', 'prison', or slang like 'the slammer' or 'the clink'.
No, it is informal, historical, and somewhat humorous slang.
It is notably used in Roald Dahl's 'Matilda', where the cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull has a punishment cupboard called 'The Chokey'.
Prison or detention.
Chokey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃəʊki/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃoʊki/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “do time in chokey”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHOKEY (choky) place where the air feels thick and confined, like an old prison cell.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFINEMENT IS SUFFOCATION / PUNISHMENT IS IMPRISONMENT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chokey' MOST likely used appropriately?