hokey cokey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, colloquial, playful
Quick answer
What does “hokey cokey” mean?
A popular participative dance and song, performed in a group, where people follow a set of instructions to put different body parts 'in' and 'out' of a circle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A popular participative dance and song, performed in a group, where people follow a set of instructions to put different body parts 'in' and 'out' of a circle.
Sometimes used informally and metaphorically to describe a situation characterized by a repetitive, in-and-out, or indecisive pattern of action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'hokey cokey' is strongly associated with British English. In the US and Canada, the essentially identical dance is almost universally known as the 'Hokey Pokey'.
Connotations
In the UK, it evokes childhood parties, school events, weddings, and communal celebrations. The US version carries similar connotations.
Frequency
High recognition but low active use in speech; typically only mentioned when describing or referring to the dance.
Grammar
How to Use “hokey cokey” in a Sentence
DO [the] hokey cokeyPLAY [the music for] the hokey cokeySING 'You do the hokey cokey...'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hokey cokey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They hokey-cokeyed for what felt like an hour.
- We're going to hokey cokey later.
American English
- They hokey-pokeyed at the reception. (US variant)
adjective
British English
- It had a hokey-cokey feel to it, with people constantly changing their minds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. A metaphorical reference to indecisive policy might be humorous.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in cultural or ethnomusicology studies.
Everyday
Used when referring to the dance at social events or recalling childhood memories.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hokey cokey”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hokey cokey”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hokey cokey”
- Spelling: 'hokey kokey', 'hokey cokie'. Confusing it with 'hokey' (adjective meaning overly sentimental or contrived).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same participatory dance. 'Hokey cokey' is the common term in the UK, while 'Hokey Pokey' is standard in the US and Canada.
Informally, yes. For example, 'We hokey-cokeyed all night.' However, this is less common than using it as a noun (e.g., 'do the hokey cokey').
The etymology is uncertain and debated. It is often considered a nonsense phrase from the mid-20th century, possibly related to earlier ice cream vendor cries ('hokey pokey' for cheap ice cream).
It is a modern, mid-20th century party dance rather than a traditional folk dance. However, it has become a long-standing and recognizable part of popular culture in the UK and North America.
A popular participative dance and song, performed in a group, where people follow a set of instructions to put different body parts 'in' and 'out' of a circle.
Hokey cokey is usually informal, colloquial, playful in register.
Hokey cokey: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊki ˈkəʊki/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊki ˈkoʊki/ (for 'Hokey Pokey'). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all just a bit of a hokey cokey. (metaphorical, rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
You put your right foot IN (to the centre), you put your right foot OUT (back) – that's what the Hokey Cokey is all about.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A DANCE; INDECISION IS AN IN-AND-OUT MOTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the term 'Hokey Pokey' used for the same dance?