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Glite Dictionary
a bit hokey

a bit hokey

8.4
A little silly and too sentimental, feeling fake
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : un poco cursi
  • While the decorations added a festive touch, some guests thought they were a bit hokey.

Examples

  • Although I thought it was a bit hokey at first, I put up an electronic vision board on my lock screen.

    Blog text (27)

  • The romantic story was charming, though I found it a bit hokey at times.

  • Her speech was well-intentioned, but it came off as a bit hokey to the audience.

Synonyms

corny
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
81 5.8

Not original and trying to be touching but it feels silly

is alike but softer and less obviously cliché or old fashioned
cheesy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
56 4.6

Feels too sentimental and silly, like a movie or card

is similar but suggests only a small amount of tasteless sentiment
mushy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
27 4.3

Showing too much emotion in a way that seems silly or fake

is closer to slight inauthentic sentiment rather than full emotional softness
hokey
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
23 8.2

Showing fake feeling and too much emotion

is the milder, somewhat sentimental and slightly unauthentic sense
sappy
vsa bit hokey
  • Offensive
23 7.0

Too emotional in a way that feels silly or fake

is similar but implies only a small degree of silliness or falseness
kitschy
vsa bit hokey
8 8.2

Too sentimental or brightly decorated and not in good taste

leans more on slight sentimentality and lack of sophistication rather than gaudiness
cornball
vsa bit hokey
  • Offensive
4 7.5

Silly and old-fashioned in a way that feels uncool

is similar but emphasises slight sentimentality rather than simple uncoolness
cloying
vsa bit hokey
3 8.2

Too sweet or emotional in a way that makes you feel sick

is only mildly corny or cheesy, not strongly sickening
schmaltzy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
2 8.7

Too emotional in a way that feels false or silly

is milder, only slightly sentimental or somewhat inauthentic
schmalzy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
8.9

Being very emotional in a way that feels fake

is less extreme and only slightly sentimental or corny
soupy
vsa bit hokey
  • Literature
6.8

Being too emotional in a cheap, false way

is lighter and only a bit corny rather than deeply sentimental
marshmallowy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
6.3

Too sweet and sentimental in tone or style

is similar but less sweet and more plainly unauthentic
goopy
vsa bit hokey
  • Informal
7.6

Too emotional and sweet in a way that feels fake

is milder, suggesting slight corniness rather than strong cloying sweetness

Antonyms

sophisticated
279 6.8

A machine or system with many advanced parts and careful design

authentic
218 3.8

Something that is real and trustworthy, not a fake

How Cheesy

tacky
  • Informal
68 4.3
cheesy
  • Informal
56 4.6
a bit hokey
  • Informal
8.4
sentimental
165 4.5

Surface Forms

a bit hokey positive

Morphology

a + bit + hokey

The expression combines the degree modifier 'a bit' (a small amount/slightly) with the adjective 'hokey' (artificial, corny), so the overall meaning 'slightly cheesy/inauthentic' is directly predictable. This is a standard degree + adjective composition found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

A bit hokey comes from an older, playful phrase hokey-pokey, once the name for cheap street shows and a silly dance. Because hokey-pokey felt fake and simple, saying something is 'a bit hokey' means it is 'a little silly', 'too sentimental', or 'not very serious'.