hock up

USAGE SUMMARY

"hock up" is not a correct or usable part of a sentence in written English.
"Hock up" is considered informal slang and should not be used in formal writing. To convey the same meaning in formal writing, you could use the phrase "come up with", such as: He asked me to hock up a solution to the problem, so I came up with a proposal.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But the machines are expensive, even at discounts offered to poor countries, and it is hard for weak patients and children to hock up lung mucus.

The New York Times - Health

The old administration was in hock up to its eyeballs.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm a spendaholic, shopaholic, chocaholic and I'm in hock up to here".

The New York Times - Arts

In other words, if you have lots of available credit, and little or manageable debt, that looks better than being in hock up to your eyeballs, or just having no established credit at all.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Assuming there's a safe haven anywhere, it's likely to be in countries not hocked up to precarious levels.

Forbes

To cover most of the $80,000 the partners needed to open shop, Gupta dug into his savings and hocked up his credit cards.

Forbes

That hocking up went hand in hand with a collapse in the savings rate from 12% to 2% of aftertax personal income.

Forbes

I shared the restroom on our way out with a homeless woman who was hocking up a juicy loogie and bathed in the sink.

Huffington Post

I sound like a real Edinburgher now, and I only wish you could hear me roll my r's; when I say "Edinburgh" the last syllable sounds like my cat hocking up a hairball.

Huffington Post

What's more, by using your mouth like a normal person during oral sex, you spread your saliva evenly over me, which is much more useful during intercourse than stray wads of lube hocked up on me.

Huffington Post

I caught some sort of bug last Friday, so I spent the better part of the weekend getting stoned, hocking up crap into a wastebasket by the couch, and waiting for someone at Burning Man to post a video so incredible that I wouldn't be able to figure out whether or not it was a joke.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, avoid using "hock up". Instead, opt for more standard phrases like "come up with" or "produce" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "hock up" in academic or professional writing, where it can sound inappropriate or unprofessional. Remember that this phrase is best reserved for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hock up" functions as a phrasal verb. Depending on the context, it can mean either to expectorate phlegm or to pawn an item. Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is considered informal slang, thus it may not be appropiate in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hock up" is primarily an informal phrasal verb that, depending on context, can mean to expectorate phlegm or to pawn an item. Ludwig AI labels "hock up" as incorrect and informal, and while it appears in various sources like news articles and blogs, its use should be limited to casual settings. For formal writing or professional communication, it's best to opt for more standard and appropriate alternatives such as "come up with", "produce", or "pawn" depending on the intended meaning. The frequency of "hock up" is relatively rare, and its misuse can detract from the clarity and professionalism of written content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Come up with

Replaces the informal "hock up" with a standard idiom for devising or creating something.

Cough up

Substitutes "hock up" with a term meaning to expel phlegm or reluctantly provide something, usually money.

Bring up

Replaces "hock up" with a more common term meaning to raise a topic for discussion or to vomit.

Raise

Replaces "hock up" with a verb for lifting or bringing something to attention.

Produce

Suggests creating or manufacturing, a more formal substitute for "hock up".

Elicit

Means to draw out or evoke something, replacing the more forceful "hock up".

Generate

Implies creating or producing something, often in a systematic way, differing from the casual "hock up".

Devise

Suggests planning or inventing a complex procedure or system, more formal than "hock up".

Invent

Implies creating something entirely new, diverging from the original sense of "hock up".

Formulate

Suggests expressing something in a systematic or formulaic way, moving away from the colloquial "hock up".

FAQs

What does "hock up" mean, and when can I use it?

"Hock up" is an informal phrase that can mean to cough up phlegm or to pawn something. It is best used in casual conversation and should be avoided in formal writing.

What are some alternatives to "hock up"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "cough up" (to expel phlegm), "pawn" (to leave something as security for a loan), or "come up with" (to devise or create something).

Is "hock up" grammatically correct in all situations?

No, "hock up" is not grammatically correct in formal writing. It's considered slang and is more appropriate for informal speech.

How can I avoid misusing the phrase "hock up"?

To avoid misusing "hock up", consider your audience and the context of your writing. If you're unsure, choose a more neutral or formal alternative like "expectorate", "pledge", or "develop".