Hokey for Dummies

Hokey is a word that we use to describe something that seems exaggerated or exaggeratedly sentimental. It's like when someone is pretending to be very emotional or pretending to care deeply about something, but it seems a little bit fake or overdone. It's kind of like when you watch a movie and the actors are crying, but you can tell they're not really crying, they're just acting. It's like they're going through the motions, but it doesn't feel quite genuine or real. That's what hokey means.

For example, think about a TV commercial where someone is trying to sell a product. Sometimes, the person in the commercial will try to make it seem like the product will solve all of your problems and make your life absolutely perfect. But deep down, we know that's not really true. It's like they're trying too hard to convince us, and that can come across as hokey.

Another way to think about it is like when someone tells a joke that is really cheesy or corny. It's like they're trying to be funny, but it's just not really working. The joke might make you roll your eyes or groan instead of actually laughing. That's another example of something that could be described as hokey.

So, in a nutshell, hokey is a word we use when something seems exaggerated, fake, or overly sentimental. It's like when someone is trying too hard to convince us of something, whether it's their emotions or the quality of a product. It's a way to describe something that doesn't feel quite genuine or real.