Hose someone can have a few different meanings depending on context. Here are the common uses and what they imply:
- Literal water sense
- To spray someone or something with a hose, usually to clean or wet them down. This is the direct, physical sense.
- De-escalation or cooling down
- An informal idiom meaning to calm someone down or to reduce the intensity of a situation. This is figurative and typically used in casual conversation.
- Slang for being cheated or taken advantage of
- In American slang, “hose someone” or “get hosed” means to be cheated, swindled, or treated unfairly. It can also refer to paying more than deserved for something due to a scam or bad deal.
- Sexual connotation (informal, vulgar)
- In some contexts, especially older or informal speech, it can refer to sex with someone. This usage is vulgar and not appropriate in formal settings.
How to distinguish meanings
- If the sentence involves cleaning, water, or rain-like action, it’s likely the literal sense.
- If it’s about calming someone or reducing tension, it’s the metaphorical “hose down.”
- If it’s about being cheated or paying too much, it’s the slang sense of being “hosed.”
- If the context is sexual or very colloquial, the vulgar meaning may be intended.
If you share a sentence or situation, I can identify which meaning fits and suggest a more appropriate or precise phrasing.
