hot cockles
Definition
Noun (plural, used with a singular verb): A historical game in which one player is blindfolded and must guess who has struck them, often associated with playful guessing or punishment.
Usage Examples
- (A game of blindfolded guessing.)
- (A historical recreational activity.)
Advanced Usage
- "to play at hot cockles": to engage in the game of hot cockles.
- They spent the evening playing at hot cockles, laughing at each mistaken guess. (They participated in the blindfolded guessing game.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cockle (n): a type of shellfish; also used in the phrase "cockles of one's heart" (feelings of warmth). Not directly related to the game.
- Hot cockles is a fixed compound noun; no common variants exist.
Synonyms
- Blindman's bluff: a similar game where a blindfolded player tries to catch others.
- Guess who: a modern game involving identifying a person by touch or sound.
Related Idioms
- "to warm the cockles of one's heart": to make someone feel happy or affectionate. (The word "cockle" here is unrelated to the game.)
- Her kind words warmed the cockles of his heart. (Her words made him feel deeply touched.)