Tonsil Hockey (noun / UK & US Slang)
(Also heard as: Tonsil tennis, Playing tonsil hockey, Tonsil swapping)
Definition:
Tonsil hockey is a joking way to describe passionate, open-mouthed kissing. “Tonsil tennis” means the same thing and is the more common version in Britain. Both are cheeky and usually said to tease someone.
Where Tonsil Hockey Comes From:
The Oxford English Dictionary traces “tonsil hockey” to mid-1980s American college slang. “Tonsil tennis” is the British twist on the same joke. Both picture tongues batting around like a game.
How People Actually Use Tonsil Hockey:
It is almost always said with a grin, about a couple kissing in public or a friend who got together with someone on a night out. It is a gossip word more than a romantic one.
Is Tonsil Hockey Rude?
Mildly cheeky, but not offensive. It is fine among friends and best avoided in formal settings.
Examples in the Wild:
- “Those two were playing tonsil hockey all night.”
Meaning: They were kissing passionately.
- “I saw you playing tonsil tennis with him.”
Meaning: I saw you kissing him.
- “Get a room, it is a bit much tonsil hockey in here.”
Meaning: Too much open kissing for the setting.
Similar Slang:
🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)
Contribute To This Page
🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)