Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK black) to smoke a (cannabis) cigarette.

1999		(con. 1979–80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 18: A mean, bearded face wearing a beret and hoovering a spliff.
2001		(con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 133: Brenton was hoovering a cigarette.

2. (orig. US) to inhale drugs.

1989		(con. 1930s) Courtwright & Des Jarlais Addicts Who Survived 379: Hoover – to snort [i.e. drugs] greedily.
1998		(con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 25: Donna hoovered it [i.e. a line of cocaine] like a pro.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 87: James hoovered up his line in one.
2000		M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 35: Mincey had just hoovered up another half teaspoon of uncut Charlie.
2018		‘Aidan Truhen’ Price You Pay 157: So here is Red Kat Bonanza and he is hoovering it [i.e. cocaine] up like a dugong and boning and on and on.

3. (orig. US) to eat or drink, esp. greedily.

1988		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 6: hoover – eat very fast.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 88: These blokes didn’t just eat — they went through the cupboards hoovering food.
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 hoover v [...] 2. to eat very quickly. Origin: the same vacuum cleaners. Someone eating quickly could (in theory) be mistaken for a vacuum cleaner. (‘He hoovered the whole pizza!’).
2004		Observer Mag. 13 June 62: Eating habits? [...] A tendancy to hoover up the kids’ leftover pizza crusts.
2024		D. Rucker Life’s Too Short 50: I hoover my half-price quesadilla.

4. (orig. US) to snatch, esp. greedily.

a.1990

P. Dickson Slang! 61: Hoovering. Acquiring stocks as if one were sucking them up with a vacuum cleaner.

5. (orig. US) to fellate vigorously.

1986		Chapman NDAS 215/2: Will you hoover me immediately, before I pay any attention to you?
2005		(con. 1950s) E. White My Lives 111: You’re such a huzzy [...] Hoovering away like that on that nice country boy.

6. (US black) to follow someone around, to be clingy.

2000

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 hoover Definition: 1.to follow someone annoyingly 2. unwantingly getting touchy and feely with someone. Example: Why ya sista always hoover on my shit!

7. (US teen) to obtain an abortion.

2001

Adolonics Teen Sl. Gloss. 🌐 Hoovering – getting an abortion.