hoke up
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To add fake, cheesy, or overdramatic stuff to something to try to make it seem better or more exciting than it really is.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To add artificial, sentimental, or theatrical elements to something in order to make it seem more dramatic or emotionally engaging, often in a cheap or insincere way.
"The producers hoked up the documentary with melodramatic music and staged re-enactments."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Chiefly North American, informal. Often used in the context of film, TV, advertising, or storytelling. Derived from 'hokum' (cheap, sentimental, or insincere material). The result of hoking something up is described as 'hokey.'
Commonly used with
story script film ending plot presentation ad
Forms
Base
hoke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hokes up
he/she/it
Past simple
hoked up
yesterday
Past participle
hoked up
have + pp
-ing form
hoking up
continuous
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