hop up

Idioms and Phrases

see hopped up .

Example Sentences

Then skip to bed a bit earlier than usual, and then hop up early to-morrow morning.

From Project Gutenberg

They often first alight on a small branch of the vine, below the nest, and then hop up to it.

From Project Gutenberg

And "Hop up here," called Grandpapa, his cheeks rosy under the white hair.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately my companion did not follow, but began to hop up and down in a manner most distressing.

From Project Gutenberg

They would not slip on smooth rock ledges, they could hop up or down bowlders like so many bipeds.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• augment
• cultivate
• develop
• endow
• enhance
• refine
• supplement
• upgrade

About This Word

What does hop up mean?

Hop up means to stimulate someone, such as with narcotics or other drugs or another stimulant, as in My mother-in-law loves to hop the kids up on sugar. 

It can also mean to excite someone or to make something more exciting, as in Get out there and hop up the crowd.

In the context of vehicles, it can mean the same thing as soup up—to modify a vehicle, especially a car, to increase its power, especially its engine power (and therefore its ability to go faster).

In all of these cases, it’s probably more common to use the adjective hopped-up.

Hopped-up means extremely excited or enthusiastic about something, as in Dave is really hopped-up about getting the new gaming system. 

This sense of the word can imply a sense of overexcitement or frenzy. The terms hyped-up and hyped mean the same thing.

Hopped-up is also used to describe someone who is in a state of stimulation, especially due to narcotics or other drugs. When used in this way, hopped-up is often followed by the word on and the drug or stimulating substance, as in Rock stars in the ’80s were notorious for being constantly hopped-up on cocaine. Though the word is most closely associated with hard drugs, it sometimes involves other stimulants, as in hopped-up on caffeine or After the party, the kids were hopped-up on sugar. 

In the context of cars, hopped-up means the same thing as souped-up, which is probably more commonly used.

Example: The kids were already hopped-up in anticipation of their trip to the theme park—you didn’t need to hop them up on sugar, too!

Where does hop up come from?

The terms hop up and hopped-up gained popularity after the 1920s. Their senses involving stimulation by drugs may derive from the use of the noun hop to refer to a narcotic, especially opium.

While hopped-up is commonly used to describe people as extremely excited or stimulated by drugs and other substances, the term hop up is mostly used in the context of drugs and other stimulants, especially narcotics, painkillers, caffeine, and sugar.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to hop up?

• hop up (verb)

What are some synonyms for hop up?

• load up
• hype up
• hype
• excite
• soup up

What are some words that share a root or word element with hop up? 

• hop
• up
• coke-up

What are some words that often get used in discussing hop up?

• drugs
• meds
• painkiller
• sugar
• caffeine
• coffee

How is hop up used in real life?

Hop up is very informal. It’s typically used in situations in which people are being stimulated by drugs or other substances.

What happens when you hop me up on Sudafed, Allegra, coffee, Red Bull and a Z-Pack? This –> http://bit.ly/ex2CHh #tigerbloodintern #vid

— Kelly Ann Collins (@itskac) April 1, 2011

Half of the day over, just the other half to go. Hopped myself up on sugar to keep me going. Will it get me to 6pm? No idea!

— Will Malley (@WillMalley) February 2, 2011

Hop them up on sugar and promise them chocolate!

— Jason Murray (@JM77) June 27, 2020

 

Try using hop up!

Is hop up used correctly in the following sentence?

They hopped me up on painkillers and sent me home.