rah-rah

[ rah-rah ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. marked by or expressive of ardently enthusiastic spirit:

   a group of rah-rah undergraduates; a rah-rah attitude.

rah-rah

/ ˈrɑːˌrɑː /

adjective

1. informal.
   like or marked by boisterous and uncritical enthusiasm and excitement

Word History and Origins

Origin of rah-rah¹

1910–15, Americanism; reduplication of rah

Word History and Origins

Origin of rah-rah¹

C20: a reduplication of rah

Example Sentences

The seemingly heroic stance of ACOG and the rah-rah for consumers need to be set into proper context.

From The Daily Beast

After a tense, at times laughable chase, comes the kind of rah-rah moment that amps up the audience for the rest of the film.

From The Daily Beast

As I wrote this morning, it's true right now that right-wing pundits are trying to rah-rah his statements.

From The Daily Beast

An enduring example of their seeming distance from the more "rah rah" Bush crowd came on Election Day, 2008.

From The Daily Beast

That was his reputation back in school—a rah-rah guy, a cheerleader, and he was good at it.

From The Daily Beast

And if you catch her chewing gum, or flirting with a rah-rah chum, then take a strap and make things hum, Wilhelmina!

From Project Gutenberg

And where Phelps leads with his baton of birch most of the other drovers of rah-rah boys follow.

From Project Gutenberg

From a crowd of rah-rah college boys celebrating a crew victory, a policeman had managed to extract two prisoners.

From Project Gutenberg

But not in those flannels or that nice new college rah-rah shirt.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Rah Rah

What does rah-rah mean?

Rah-rah is an adjective used to describe an enthusiastic attitude or spirit or actions motivated by such spirit. It often implies that someone is cheering on supporting something in an uncritical or overly enthusiastic way.

It’s especially associated with sports. The term is based on the word rah, which is shouted as a cheer, typically by cheerleaders or fans at sporting events. (Rah is used in traditional cheers like rah, rah, sis boom bah).

Example: His rah-rah attitude about the company has prevented him from seeing its flaws.

Where does rah-rah come from?

The first records of the term rah-rah come from around 1900. The word rah as a cheer dates back to at least 1870. It is a shortening of hurrah, which comes from the similar German term hurra. Hurrah may have been based on or influenced by the earlier and very similar huzzah. Huzzah is thought to come from a word that sailors used to shout in celebration. It may derive from the word hoise, meaning “to hoist”—which they’d shout when hoisting (raising) something, like the sails of the ship.

Repetition of the word rah can be heard in many traditional cheers, leading to the use of the term rah-rah and its association with fandom. Applying the term rah-rah to something often implies that it involves an overly enthusiastic attitude, especially one that doesn’t consider any negative aspects about something.

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with rah-rah? 

• rah
• hurrah

What are some words that often get used in discussing rah-rah?

• fan
• speech
• attitude
• supporter

How is rah-rah used in real life?

Rah-rah is most commonly used in a negative way to criticize uncritical enthusiasm or support of something. It’s typically used in reference to sports, but it can be used in other contexts, such as politics and business.

Harbaugh’s intensity and rah-rah attitude wears on guys in the #NFL, especially ones making more than the coach. It gets tiring. #49ers

— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) December 15, 2014

Broncos linebacker Von Miller on how coach Vance Joseph didn't use a "rah-rah speech" as Joseph challenged the team leaders in Saturday night's team meeting: "Fringe guys need the rah-rah speech to go out and play. The ballers are just going to play… https://t.co/i3JPs4P26o

— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) December 11, 2017

Since I'm asked a lot: I don't have any issues w/49ers.com or the people who staff it. My issue is w/fans who only want rah-rah storylines.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 18, 2014

 

 

Try using rah-rah!

Is rah-rah used correctly in the following sentence? 

We need fewer of these rah-rah pep rallies and more serious meetings.