We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does It Mean to "Hock a Loogie"?

Michael Pollick
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 54,879
Share

It's generally a good idea to keep most of your bodily fluids to yourself, especially if they can be described as loogies, luggies, lugies, or green spit. Others will thank you for your self-control and courtesy, trust us. But if you feel the urge to hock a loogie, you should at least have a working knowledge of basic gross-out technology.

To hock a loogie means to expectorate or spit out a generous supply of mucus thoughtfully stored in your throat and lungs. Some people find this easier to accomplish than others, especially if they are afflicted with chest congestion, smoke heavily or have few reservations about coughing up their own phlegm for visceral effect.

Sometimes a person may hock a loogie for purely medical, if not exactly aesthetic, reasons. Coughing up and expectorating excessive mucus from the throat and lungs can temporarily relieve the uncomfortable sense of fullness accompanying a chest cold. In a self-medicating sense, coughing up phlegm may be seen as the equivalent of sneezing to relieve nasal congestion. Perhaps the activity should be restricted to times when others are out of earshot, but there's nothing inherently wrong with clearing an infected chest through productive coughing.

Others may decide to hock a loogie for a decidedly different reason, however. The act of spitting saliva on another person has a certain psychological effect, but the gesture is often intensified by generating additional mucus to form a much larger and insidious projectile. Recipients of a loogie assault generally remember the event long after the fact and recognize its underlying intent. To hock a loogie in anger is considered a serious escalation in playground warfare, and is generally reserved for the worst offenders.

The origin of the term loogie is a bit shadowy, but some suggest it is shorthand for a "lung booger," the equivalent of thick nasal mucus which adheres to the sides of the lungs until forcibly ejected. Boogers and loogies are both favorite sources of gross-out humor by pre-adolescents who enjoy shocking their friends and families with inappropriate acts of spitting and expectorating mucus.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Pollick
By Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to WiseGeek, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range of topics. His curiosity drives him to study subjects in-depth, resulting in informative and engaging articles. Prior to becoming a professional writer, Michael honed his skills as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
By anon986441 — On Jan 25, 2015

Ladies might be better off to rid themselves of a loogie when the need arises. If they don't eject this infected stuff directly, germs like strep and staff might make their way through their intestines, then come out their bottom and gain access to their vagina. The germs get in the vagina by way of the "bacterial highway" which consists of tight jeans and/or panty girdles. Strep or staph in the vagina is very serious!

By anon952526 — On May 21, 2014

The word is "hawk." it means to raise by trying to clear the throat.

By anon938136 — On Mar 08, 2014

What? That is not what I understand it to mean at all. Isn't it when a person hocks (making a semi coughing noise to loosen something from the throat), then spits out a semi solid small ball of waxy substance that was formed in the upper throat from sinus drainage?

By literally45 — On Sep 14, 2013

In some cultures, spitting on someone is dishonoring them. It's a very belittling action and is meant to be a kind of protest against that person and their behavior. For example, if someone is doing something wrong, you can spit on them to show them how lowly you think of them. But it's reserved for bullies and unjust people. The repercussions aren't usually pleasant either.

The only difference is that there isn't much of hacking action involved. It's just spitting from the tip of the tongue, without the use of much spit. The point is not to drench someone in saliva, it's just to make a statement about disapproval.

By ysmina — On Sep 14, 2013

@anon343574-- Do you think that's where "hock" comes from?

I personally don't understand the origin of this phrase. Is it originally English? I've seen other variations of it like "hawk a lunger" and "hang a louie."

By burcinc — On Sep 13, 2013

There is nothing more disturbing than seeing a tobacco chewer or smoker hocking a loogie in the middle of the street. I find it very repulsive and I have no idea what these people are thinking doing it publicly.

Sometimes we all need to hock a loogie. I've had a lot of congestion and phlegm before when I was sick. But I always go rid of it discreetly in my bathroom. I don't think that this is something that should be done publicly no matter what the reason.

By anon347729 — On Sep 09, 2013

I wasn't expecting such a well thought out and well written article to cover this topic. I definitely agree that it is not socially acceptable. To do so on a normal basis around other people is never acceptable.

By anon343574 — On Jul 31, 2013

The word "hock" is definitely the noise the person makes while they are trying to get the phlegm out of their lungs. Which makes the whole term that much more humorous.

By anon242784 — On Jan 25, 2012

Wow. Interesting, yet very gross.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to WiseGeek, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-it-mean-to-hock-a-loogie.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.