hip hip hooray
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Recorded as far back as 1803. The word hip was in use then as a meaningless syllable to get someone's attention. Hooray (or hurrah) goes back to 1686, and also had no specific meaning, used instead to get a person's attention.
Interjection
- An exclamation of congratulations especially in response to a call for 'Three cheers for' the person.
Usage notes
A folk etymology for this interjection suggests it comes from an anti-Semitic German interjection (hep hep), but that is much too recent.
Translations
an exclamation of congratulations
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See also
References
- October 12, 2015. WordOrigins.org Dave Wilton.