Well, I guess that’s another word that might or might not have sexual connotations, depending on the context. (Scientific progress, for example, goes “Boink”.)
A continuum of sexual activity just short of sex and used in the context of a casual/quasi-anonymous sexual encounter. Like, I hooked up with that guy from Wills and Trusts after beer and darts last weekend.
I would not use “hooked up” to refer to anything with a boyfriend unless it was “I hooked up with bf last weekend to see Brokeback Mountain,” thereby taking it back to its older/non-sexual meaning.
So what does Joey Tribiani (Friends, Joey) who is well into his 30s do with girls he meets in a bar?
Male 22, and the only time I’ve ever used the phrase hook up was in a non sexual, hanging out kind of way. Which is strange, because thinking back on it I’ve only said it about women.
Saying I hooked up with Heather this weekend sounds completely natural, (and in my opinion carries no sexual overtones at all) but to say that I hooked up with Derek somehow feels odd.
Hmmm…
being married male, it means “everything I cannot do” with a woman I desire…
Depending on context, a hookup can be meeting someone, but that’s only my assumption when I know people are platonic. Traditionally, it tends to be phrased as something that’s going to happen - eg, “Sharon and I need to hook up this weekend [and, impliedly, see Curious George].”
Otherwise, my assumption when I hear someone say he hooked up with a girl is that there was an ejaculation at some point. YMMV, of course.
I actually sort of assume ‘to hook up’ does not, in fact, include actual sex. I wouldn’t feel the need to correct anyone about it, but to me it implies making out/heavy petting.