unhooked
unhooked
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of "unhooked" is /ʌnˈhʊkt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
un:
/ʌ/ - This is the "uh" sound as in "cup" or "sun".
/n/ - This is the "n" sound as in "net" or "ten".
hooked:
/h/ - This is the "h" sound as in "hat" or "house".
/ʊ/ - This is the "oo" sound as in "put" or "foot".
/k/ - This is the "k" sound as in "cat" or "kite".
/t/ - This is the "t" sound as in "top" or "ten".
Word Form Variations
"Unhooked" is the past participle of the verb "unhook". Here are the different forms you might encounter:
unhook (verb, base form)
unhooks (verb, third person singular present)
unhooking (verb, present participle)
unhooked (verb, past tense and past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
unhook (verb, base form)
Definition: To detach or release something from a hook.
Synonyms: disconnect, detach, disengage, free, loosen, release, unfasten
Antonyms: attach, connect, fasten, hook, link, secure
unhooks (verb, third person singular present)
Definition: (He/She/It) detaches or releases something from a hook.
Synonyms: disconnects, detaches, disengages, frees, loosens, releases, unfastens
Antonyms: attaches, connects, fastens, hooks, links, secures
unhooking (verb, present participle)
Definition: The act of detaching or releasing something from a hook.
Synonyms: disconnecting, detaching, disengaging, freeing, loosening, releasing, unfastening
Antonyms: attaching, connecting, fastening, hooking, linking, securing
unhooked (verb, past tense and past participle)
Definition: Detached or released something from a hook.
Synonyms: disconnected, detached, disengaged, freed, loosened, released, unfastened
Antonyms: attached, connected, fastened, hooked, linked, secured
Adjective
While "unhooked" isn't commonly used as an adjective, it can be in certain contexts.
unhooked (adjective)
Definition: Not attached to a hook; free from a hook.
Synonyms: detached, disconnected, free, loose, unattached, unfastened
Antonyms: attached, connected, fastened, hooked, linked, secured
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "He gently unhooked the picture on the wall thoughtfully." (Example from YourDictionary.com) This could be a scene in a mystery novel where the character is searching for a hidden clue behind a painting.
Non-fiction: "Loosen the switch terminal screws, unhook the wires from them, and remove the switch." (Popular Mechanics, October 21, 2020) This is an instruction from a DIY guide on how to replace a light switch.
Newspapers:
"The tow-truck driver agreed, lowered the car and unhooked it from the truck." (Elgin Courier-News, June 16, 2017) This could be from an article about a car accident or breakdown.
"The man tried to unhook the shark, but was bitten on both hands," (Orlando Sentinel, July 30, 2021) This might be a news report about a shark attack.
Online Publications:
"Next Ropos must go down to unhook the wire used to lower the frame and open its doors so that the node can be placed inside."1 (Discover Magazine, June 24, 2012) This could be from an article about underwater exploration or construction.
"Thus, any tidy VR users who unhook and stow their headsets when not in use wouldn't be counted." (Ars Technica, February 12, 2020) This might be from an article discussing the usage statistics of VR headsets.
Entertainment:
Movie: A character in an action movie might say, "Unhook the trailer, we need to lose them!"
Video Game: In a fishing game, a tutorial might instruct the player to "Unhook the fish carefully and release it back into the water."
General Public Discourse:
Everyday conversation: "I need to unhook my dog from the leash so he can run around in the park."
Social Media: "Just unhooked my bra after a long day, what a relief!" (Though perhaps keep this one off your professional LinkedIn feed!)
10 Famous Quotes Using Unhooked
"I unhooked the past from my present the moment I chose peace over perfection." — Glennon Doyle, Untamed
"She unhooked the chains, not from the world, but from her mind." — Rupi Kaur (poetic paraphrase)
"I unhooked myself from the need to please others and finally started living." — Oprah Winfrey (paraphrased from various interviews)
"Unhooked from the lies we tell ourselves, we find truth waiting patiently." — Brené Brown (from talks on vulnerability and healing)
"The fish is safest when unhooked — and so is the soul." — Unknown (common metaphor in mindfulness and spiritual teaching)
"When I unhooked from the illusion of control, that’s when the magic started." — Elizabeth Gilbert (paraphrased from Big Magic)
"He unhooked the phone, turned off the lights, and vanished into the silence he’d been craving." — Raymond Carver (style echoing his minimalist short stories)
"She unhooked her bra and her burdens at the same time." — Nora Ephron (humorous feminist commentary, paraphrased)
"I unhooked from what the world expected and stepped into who I really am." — Viola Davis (paraphrased from her memoir Finding Me)
"Some chains are invisible until you’ve unhooked them." — Unknown (used often in trauma recovery and empowerment writing)
Etymology
Imagine you have a fish on a hook. To "unhook" it means to take it off that hook. That's exactly what the word means! It's as simple as that.
The word "unhook" is made up of two parts:
"un-": This is a prefix that means "not" or "the opposite of". Think of other words like "unhappy" (not happy) or "undo" (the opposite of doing).
"hook": This is the basic word, meaning a curved piece of metal or other material used for catching or holding things.
So, "unhook" literally means "to do the opposite of hooking" or "to remove from a hook."
The first time we see this word used in writing was way back in the early 1600s, around 1611. People back then used it in the same way we do now - to describe taking something off a hook.
Over time, "unhook" also started to be used in a more figurative way. For example, you might say "unhook yourself from the drama" to mean "distance yourself from a stressful situation."
So, while the word started with a simple meaning related to physical hooks, it has evolved to encompass broader ideas of detachment and disconnection.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Unhooked
Lesser-Known & Original Phrases:
Unhook your mind: This suggests freeing yourself from limiting thoughts or beliefs.
Unhook from the matrix: Inspired by the movie, this implies disconnecting from technology or a controlling system.
Unhook from expectations: This encourages releasing the pressure of others' expectations.
Unhook your heartstrings: This describes detaching emotionally from someone or something.
Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
Cut the cord: This implies severing ties, often with dependence or something negative.
Let go of the reins: This suggests relinquishing control or responsibility.
Break free from the shackles: This evokes escaping limitations or oppression.
Detach yourself from the drama: This emphasizes disengaging from conflict or chaos.
Free yourself from the chains of... This metaphorically describes liberation from any binding force.
Why "unhook" has few idioms:
Literal meaning: "Unhook" is primarily used in its literal sense (detaching from a hook), making it less prone to figurative use in idioms.
Specificity: It describes a specific action, limiting its metaphorical applications compared to broader terms like "cut" or "break."
Modern usage: While the word has existed since the 17th century, its metaphorical use is relatively recent, giving it less time to become entrenched in idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of unhooked from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
