hooch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hooch" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal and slang.
It can be used to refer to alcoholic beverages, particularly homemade or illicit liquor. Example: "After a long day of hiking, we enjoyed some hooch by the campfire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"From Dublin to Lublin, from Portugal to Pomerania, the pitchfork-wielding populists are converging on the Breydel building in Brussels – drunk on local hooch and chanting nationalist slogans and preparing to give the federalist machinery a good old kicking with their authentically folkloric clogs," Boris Johnson wrote in the Telegraph on Monday.

The Guardian

He made hooch, rioted, attempted escape at least twice (he can't exactly remember), once being discovered hiding in a compost heap.

The Guardian

The people of Kapatovo, a village near Sofia, named their hooch "Borisovka" after he vetoed higher alcohol duties.The burly Mr Borisov could hardly be more different from his predecessor, Sergei Stanishev.

The Economist

Forget, then, the familiar cry: "Has anyone got a charger I can borrow?" It will be replaced by: "Can you spare me a squirt of methanol?"—and that won't mean in your hooch.

The Economist

And it plans, starting next year, to buy biodiesel from home producers as well.Some of these producers rely, like Mr Ferlow, on Heath Robinson lash-ups of their own devising to make their motoring equivalent of hooch.

The Economist

In the outskirts of Mecca, Saudis secretly brew an even deadlier drink of the same name but this home-made hooch is still a safer tipple than the methanol-laced after-shave that killed 11 desperate revellers in the holy city last year.Arak?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Hooch-makers subscribe to a Mafia-like vow of silence, and war on those who betray it.

The Economist

From this shift of emphasis in image-making from the divine to the secular also arose the bucolic playfulness of Jan Steen, the earthy faces of Frans Hals, the brilliant red brickwork of Pieter de Hooch, the serene interiors of Johannes Vermeer and much of Rembrandt's own canon.

The Economist

Vermeer's interior scenes during this period were also influenced by the work of Pieter de Hooch, a leading genre painter in Delft at the time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because of his genre paintings, van den Eeckhout is considered a forerunner of such luminaries as Delft school painter Pieter de Hooch.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The rich period of genre painting in the 17th-century Netherlands is represented by the interiors, conversation pieces, and scenes of work and play by David Teniers the Younger, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Judith Leyster, Gerard Terborch, Pieter de Hooch, Adriaen van Ostade, and, the finest, by Johannes Vermeer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hooch", be aware of its informal connotation and choose it when aiming for a colloquial or historical tone, especially when discussing prohibition or homemade alcohol.

Common error

Avoid using "hooch" in formal writing or professional contexts where a more precise or sophisticated term like "liquor" or "spirits" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Hooch primarily functions as a noun, referring to alcoholic liquor, especially of an inferior or illicit nature. According to Ludwig AI, it can also less commonly function as an adjective meaning 'high'. The examples confirm its use in describing homemade or low-quality alcohol.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hooch" is an informal term primarily used as a noun to describe alcoholic beverages, especially those that are illicit or of poor quality. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct. While versatile, its use is best suited for casual or historical contexts and should be avoided in formal writing. Common in news and media, "hooch" evokes a sense of homemade or low-quality alcohol, as reinforced by the numerous examples. Alternatives include "liquor", "spirits", and "moonshine", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moonshine

Refers specifically to illegally distilled liquor, often homemade.

bootleg liquor

Implies illegally produced and distributed alcohol.

homebrew

Indicates homemade beer or other alcoholic beverages.

illicit whisky

Specifically points to unlawfully made whisky.

rotgut

Slang term for cheap, low-quality alcohol.

white lightning

Another slang term for moonshine, often associated with its potency.

home-distilled spirit

Formal way to refer to spirits distilled at home.

thatched hut

Refers to a simple dwelling covered with thatch.

simple dwelling

A basic or unsophisticated place of residence.

shack

Denotes a roughly built hut or cabin.

FAQs

What does "hooch" mean?

"Hooch" refers to alcoholic liquor, especially if it's inferior or illicit, and can also refer to a simple dwelling or hut.

What can I say instead of "hooch" when referring to alcohol?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "liquor", "spirits", "moonshine", or "homebrew".

Is "hooch" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "hooch" is informal and best suited for casual or colloquial contexts. Use more formal terms like "alcohol" or "liquor" in formal writing.

Can "hooch" refer to anything other than alcohol?

Yes, although less common, "hooch" can also refer to a simple dwelling or hut, similar to "shack" or "hut".