Search
Select the dictionary language
(Canada) someone who siphons gasoline from a vehicle or equipment
What does "hoser" mean in Canadian slang?
The structure adds the "-er" suffix to "hose" (a tube used for siphoning liquids), forming a noun for a person who engages in petty theft. It is used in Canada to describe someone who siphons gasoline from a vehicle or equipment, often as a cheap or desperate way to steal fuel. People typically say "That hoser stole my gas again" or "Watch your tank, there are hosers around here." The term originated in Canadian English, likely from rural or blue collar contexts where gasoline theft was a recognized nuisance.
(Canada) a person who hoses down a hockey rink to smooth the ice
(Canada) a clumsy, boorish, or unsophisticated person, often over-eating, drinking, or committing minor infractions
What is the origin of the term "hoser" and how is it used?
"Hoser" is Canadian slang that became widely known in the 1980s through comedy sketches, especially those portraying stereotypical beer-drinking, working-class men. One popular explanation links it to someone who would have to hose down an ice rink after losing a hockey game, implying incompetence or low status. It came to describe a clumsy, boorish, or unsophisticated person. The term is used informally, often humorously. It is mildly derogatory but often playful.
Lexical Tree
