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Glite Dictionary
to hoof it

to hoof it

9 8.8
Walk somewhere instead of going by car or bus
  • phrasal verb
  • /huf ɪt/
  • Informal
: andar
  • I have hoofed it home from here many a night, he thought.
  • just hoof it
  • hoof it back
  • hoof it north

Examples

Synonyms

to tread
vsto hoof it
96 3.0

To step on something with your foot, often pressing down

is simple informal travel by walking rather than stepping to press or crush
to stride
vsto hoof it
58 2.7

To walk with long confident steps toward a place

is ordinary walking chosen for transport rather than confident, forceful steps
to tramp
vsto hoof it
14 5.5

To walk with heavy steps, often over rough ground

is the informal option for simple travel rather than strenuous, heavy walking
to hoof
vsto hoof it
  • Informal
8 7.9

To walk quickly, often for a long distance

is the general informal term without strong speed or endurance focus
to trot to
vsto hoof it
5 4.8

To go quickly in small, fast steps to a place

is the relaxed informal travel choice, not necessarily moving briskly
to go walking
vsto hoof it
3 1.0

To walk for pleasure or exercise

is walking chosen as transport instead of a vehicle, not for leisure
to trot down
vsto hoof it
2 3.8

Walk quickly for a short distance to a nearby place

is broader travel on foot rather than a short casual movement
to leg it
vsto hoof it
  • UK
1 9.0

Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast

is a casual choice to travel by foot, not primarily to flee or run
to foot
vsto hoof it
  • Informal
1 7.7

To walk when another vehicle could take you

is the more slangy or vivid informal expression
to tramp across
vsto hoof it
1 5.4

To walk with heavy steps across a large area

is the ordinary informal travel, not focused on heavy, purposeful crossing
to peregrinate
vsto hoof it
  • Formal
1 9.9

To travel around a place, usually on foot

is the informal everyday choice for simple travel instead of a vehicle
to footwalk
vsto hoof it
1 7.7

To walk a route to check for obstacles

is the casual informal travel choice rather than a purposeful inspection

Antonyms

to ride
∞ 1.0

To travel by bike, horse, or car

How Fast

to run
∞ 1.0
to hike
138 2.0
to hoof it
  • Informal
9 8.8
to walk
∞ 1.0
to stroll
118 1.8

Surface Forms

hoof it infinitive
hoofed it past
hoofed it past participle
hoofing it present participle
hoofs it third person singular

Morphology

hoof + it

The verb 'hoof' already means 'to travel on foot' and the pronoun 'it' functions as a dummy object here, so the combined phrase literally means 'walk' or 'go on foot'. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift and the construction follows a common informal verb + pronoun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Hoof it likely comes from the image of a hoof, an animal's hard foot, walking along, so you imagine moving on foot. That's why hoof it means 'to walk' or 'to travel on foot'.