Meaning & use
hooked in
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparableinformal
Connected to important people or groups, especially in a way that gives you an advantage.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like 'be' or 'get'; it does not come before a noun.
Patterns
- be hooked in
- get hooked in
- hooked in with someone
He's well hooked in with the local business community.
If you want funding, you need to be hooked in to the right networks.
Common combinations
- well hooked in
- She's well hooked in and hears about deals before anyone else.
- hooked in with someone
- The startup is hooked in with several major investors.
- get hooked in
- It took him years to get hooked in to the political scene.
Synonyms and how they differ
- connected
- Neutral and general; 'hooked in' is more informal and suggests active, useful connections.
- plugged in
- Similar informal meaning, but often about being aware of current information rather than having personal contacts.
Commonly confused: hooked in or hooked on?
hooked in vs hooked on
Means 'addicted to' or 'very interested in'; 'hooked in' is about being connected to people or networks.
Practice
After moving to the city, she quickly got ___ with a group of influential journalists.
Choose one answer.
'Hooked in with' means she formed useful connections. 'Hooked on' means addicted or enthusiastic, which doesn't fit the context of networking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hooked in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.