Vocabulary Question

[rabbitskin]

If someone says that they have 'hook-ups' at the local bars, what does this mean?

Can someone translate for me?

[Mythical_Suicide]

It could mean a world of things, in what context are they saying it?

(Sexually, friends, etc)

[rabbitskin]

Erm... just that. He said he goes out downtown and most of his friends have hookups at the local bars. I'm confused because it sounds like something dreadful!

[anggrace]

It could just mean they know people there, or it could mean they have people they meet there that they have sex with. Its hard to know just by that sentance.

[Mythical_Suicide]

You need to ask him what he means when he says "hook ups"As I said, it could mean anything from a sexual hook up to a casual "I know people" hook up for things.

[rabbitskin]

Thanks guys. I will ask. The story is that I've been chatting to this guy by email, not in a potential date way, but in a friends way, when he wrote this. I didn't want to write back if this meant that he and his friends have people they keep around for casual sex... (yeah, not being judgemental, just not my kind of people, you know?)

[Hope75]

You know, I've heard the term "hook-up" in a few different contexts.

 

I always thought it meant having sex with someone, but then a friend used to tell me she hooked up with these guys and I found out all she was talking about was kissing them. Then another friend uses the term "hook-up" to indicate that he's just meeting some friends somewhere to hang out, and it has no sexual connotation.

 

So I guess if you're wondering I'd just ask for clarification: "What do you mean when you say "hook up"? I'm confused because it has so many different meanings."

[Daddy Bear]

Booty call!!

[southerngirl]

Nah I disagree. He emailed this to you and said that him and his friends have 'hookups'. What if its inocent? They have friends that work at these places and hook them up with free admission or extra drinks etc... and they have a good time because their friend 'hooked them up with cool stuff'.

 

There are other spins on it..

[BeStrongBeHappy]

it depends... it can mean anything from 'getting together' (as in meeting up with someone, let's hook for dinner later) to someone procuring someone drugs (i.e., he hooked him up with drug x), or a casual sexual encounter (i hooked up with so and so last night).

 

it is usually the context in which it is said that clarified the meaning... and if someone asks you to hook up, definitely ask what it means first!

[valiantv]

Is he an angler? A butcher? A maker of prosthetic hands for pantomime pirates?

[TheFoglifter]

If the subject at hand was whether or not they have casual sex with people, and he said "I have hook-ups with people I meet at bars" then its probably in a sexual context (which can still mean anything from kissing to full sex).

 

If you were talking about where to go out though, and he said "I have hook-ups at the local bars", then he could be referring to being on a VIP list, or being friends with the bartenders and/or bouncers and whatnot.