hoick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “hoick” mean?
To lift or pull something up suddenly and with effort.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To lift or pull something up suddenly and with effort.
To move or jerk something abruptly; to clear the throat noisily (chiefly British); to raise a sail quickly (nautical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English. In American English, it is rare and may be seen as a Britishism. The 'clear the throat' sense is almost exclusively British.
Connotations
UK: Often casual, slightly rustic, or sporting. US: If used, may carry a humorous or deliberately British tone.
Frequency
Infrequent in both varieties, but markedly more so in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “hoick” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] hoick [OBJ] [PARTICLE] (e.g., up, out)[SUBJ] hoick [OBJ] [PREP PHRASE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hoick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He had to hoick the heavy crate onto the lorry.
- The cricketer hoicked the ball over the boundary for six.
- He hoicked to clear his throat before speaking.
American English
- The sailor hoicked the mainsail swiftly. (nautical)
- She hoicked her backpack onto her shoulder with a grunt. (conscious Britishism)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Used occasionally in informal UK contexts, especially related to physical tasks or sports.
Technical
Used in sailing contexts (nautical).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoick”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Overusing it in American English contexts.
- Spelling as 'hoik' (variant, but less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and is rarely used in formal writing or speech.
Yes, informally, especially in British English (e.g., 'He gave it a good hoick').
It is of unknown origin, first appearing in the late 19th century, possibly imitative or a variant of 'hike'.
It is a recognised variant, but 'hoick' is the more standard and common spelling.
To lift or pull something up suddenly and with effort.
Hoick: in British English it is pronounced /hɔɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɔɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hoick it up”
- “Give it a hoick”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOIST that gives a quick, jerky JERK – HOIST + JERK = HOICK.
Conceptual Metaphor
UP IS ACQUIRED WITH EFFORT (The object is metaphorically 'won' through a sudden upward motion).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hoick' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?