hip
B1Informal (slang for trendy), Neutral (anatomical term)
Definition
Meaning
the laterally projecting part of the pelvis and upper thigh; also meaning aware of, or following, the latest trends or fashions.
In anatomy: the joint connecting leg to torso. In cultural use: being stylish, up-to-date, and culturally aware.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The anatomical sense is neutral; the slang sense for 'trendy' originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and jazz culture. It was revitalized in the 1980s–90s slang. It can be considered dated or ironic in modern usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Anatomical sense is identical. Slang sense is understood but may feel slightly more American in origin. Spelling identical.
Connotations
UK: Slang sense might be perceived as slightly old-fashioned or imported from US media. US: Stronger cultural connection to jazz, beatnik, and later hipster subcultures.
Frequency
Anatomical term common in both. Slang usage is low-frequency in formal contexts and may be used more ironically by younger speakers in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be hip to (something)keep hipconsider (someone) hipVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shoot from the hip (speak/act impulsively)”
- “smite hip and thigh (Biblical: defeat utterly)”
- “hip, hip, hooray! (cheer)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in 'hip to the latest market trends' (metaphorical).
Academic
Strictly anatomical in medical/biology contexts. Sociological contexts may discuss 'hipster culture'.
Everyday
Anatomy: 'My hip hurts.' Slang: 'That cafe is really hip.'
Technical
Medical: 'acetabulum', 'femoral head', 'total hip arthroplasty'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager was finally hipped to the security flaw.
- (Rare in modern UK English)
American English
- You need to hip me to what's really going on.
- (Archaic/jargon)
adverb
British English
- (Virtually unused as an adverb)
American English
- (Virtually unused as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- That new vinyl record shop in Shoreditch is quite hip.
- His views on fashion aren't very hip these days.
American English
- She's one of the hippest designers in Brooklyn.
- A hip new brewery just opened downtown.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She fell and hurt her hip.
- Hip, hip, hooray!
- My grandfather had a hip replacement last year.
- That's a very hip jacket you're wearing.
- The surgeon explained the risks of the hip operation.
- The magazine tries to appeal to a hip, young audience.
- Osteoarthritis commonly affects the weight-bearing joints like the hip.
- His ironic detachment and vintage clothing marked him as a archetypal hipster, desperately trying to appear hip.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HIPster wearing skinny jeans – the style is tight around the HIP bones.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS BEING HIP ('He's hip to the plan.'). BEING FASHIONABLE IS BEING AHEAD ('She's always on the hip new things.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'hip' as a body part (бедро, тазобедренный сустав) and the Russian word 'хип' (slang for a trendy person), which is a direct borrowing. Do not translate the slang sense literally as 'модный' without considering the subcultural nuance.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hip' in formal writing to mean 'trendy'. Confusing 'hip' with 'waist'. Overusing the slang term, making it sound forced.
Practice
Quiz
In informal slang, if someone is 'hip', they are:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its use has declined and can sound dated. It's often used ironically or in fixed phrases ('hipster'). 'Cool', 'trendy', or 'with it' are more current.
The hip is the bone structure below the waist; the waist is the narrower part of the torso above the hips. Clothes sit on the hips (low-rise jeans) versus around the waist (high-waisted trousers).
Yes, but it's archaic/jargon. 'To hip someone to something' means to inform them, make them aware. It's rarely used in modern English.
It means to speak or act very quickly and impulsively, without careful thought or planning, like a gunslinger in a movie drawing a pistol without aiming.
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Body and Health
A1 · 49 words · Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary.