hook up

To connect someone or something to a machine, power supply, or signal source.

• Hook up the computer to the screen.
• The house was hooked up to the power supply last week.
• Is the patient hooked up to a monitor?

How to use it: hook something up to something (Hook the television up to the antenna.); be hooked up to something (The patient was hooked up to a heart monitor.)

Similar words: connect, attach

Opposites: disconnect

Common phrases: hook up something, hook up to something

To join the parts of equipment together so it can work.

• Can you hook up the speakers?
• We hooked up the new stereo yesterday.
• She is hooking up the equipment for tonight’s concert.

How to use it: hook something up (The technician hooked the sound system up.)

Similar words: connect, wire up

Opposites: disconnect

Common phrases: hook up equipment, hook up speakers

To meet or join someone to do something together.

• We hooked up with a local band.
• She hooked up with two designers to start a business.
• Let’s hook up with the others at the station.

How to use it: hook up with someone (We hooked up with another team to develop the app.)

Similar words: team up, join up, meet up

Common phrases: hook up with someone, hook up with partners

To arrange for someone to receive something they need or want.

• Can you hook me up with tickets?
• She hooked us up with a ride home.
• His cousin hooked him up with a job interview.

How to use it: hook someone up with something (My friend hooked me up with a reliable mechanic.)

Similar words: provide, supply, fix up

Common phrases: hook up someone, hook up with something

To give someone a lower price, something free, or more than they would normally get.

• The waiter hooked us up with dessert.
• My cousin hooked me up with a huge discount.
• Buy your bike there; they’ll hook you up.

How to use it: hook someone up with something (The manager hooked us up with a free room upgrade.)

Similar words: give a deal, give a discount

Common phrases: hook up someone, hook up with extras

To sell or supply drugs or other goods that people cannot legally buy.

• He hooked them up with weed.
• Police said she had hooked several customers up with cocaine.
• The seller offered to hook him up with stolen phones.

How to use it: hook someone up with something (The dealer hooked buyers up with illegal drugs.)

Similar words: deal, supply

Common phrases: hook up buyers, hook up with drugs