haik
B1Neutral to informal. Common in everyday speech, travel, and outdoor contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A long, vigorous walk, especially in the countryside or on trails.
To increase a price, rate, or amount sharply; to pull or lift up clothing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to recreational walking in nature. As a verb, the meaning 'to increase sharply' is common in economic/news contexts (e.g., hike taxes).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the core meaning identically. The noun 'hike' for a walk is slightly more established in American English for describing a planned recreational activity.
Connotations
Generally positive, associated with health, nature, and leisure. In financial contexts, negative connotations of imposition.
Frequency
Very frequent in both varieties. The financial verb sense ('hike interest rates') is equally common in news.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hike (through the hills)hike (prices)hike up (your socks)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take a hike! (slang: go away)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common for sudden, substantial increases (e.g., 'The budget hike surprised investors.').
Academic
Rare in core texts, may appear in geography/tourism studies.
Everyday
Very common for talking about outdoor activities and price increases.
Technical
Used in hiking/trekking guides and economic reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We plan to hike across the Yorkshire Dales this weekend.
- The council hiked parking charges by 20%.
American English
- Let's hike the Appalachian Trail section this fall.
- The company hiked its subscription fee.
adjective
British English
- He wore his best hike boots for the trip.
- The hike trail was well-marked.
American English
- She bought new hiking pants for the trip.
- We followed the hiking path to the waterfall.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We went for a hike in the forest.
- The bus fare had a big hike.
- After a three-hour hike, we reached the mountain lake.
- The government does not plan to hike taxes this year.
- They hiked their way through rugged terrain, relying on a compass.
- The sudden hike in energy costs has affected household budgets.
- Advocates warned that hiking interest rates could stifle economic recovery.
- The charity organises sponsored hikes along historical pilgrimage routes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIKE sounds like 'like' - imagine you really LIKE going for long walks in nature.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A HIKE (involves effort, path, destination). ECONOMIC PRESSURE IS UPWARD PHYSICAL FORCE ('hiking prices').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "хикать" или "хихикать". Отличать от "похода" (trek/expedition). "Take a hike!" - грубое "Отвали!", а не приглашение.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hike' for a short city walk (use 'walk'). Confusing 'hike' (noun/verb) with ' hitchhike'. Spelling: 'hike', not 'haik' or 'hyke'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hike' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A walk is general. A hike implies a longer, purposeful walk in nature, often on trails. A trek suggests an even longer, more demanding, multi-day journey.
Typically not for the core meaning. It strongly implies a natural setting. You might say 'hike through the urban park' if it's large and trail-like, but 'city hike' sounds unusual.
Yes. 'Take a hike!' is an informal, impolite way to tell someone to go away or leave you alone.
It has two uses: 1) Literal: to pull up clothing ("She hiked up her skirt to wade through the stream"). 2) Figurative: synonymous with 'hike' for increases ("They hiked up the prices").