cock-a-hoop
Americanadjective
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in a state of unrestrained joy or exultation; boastfully elated.
He was cock-a-hoop over his victory.
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askew; out of kilter.
He knocked his hat cock-a-hoop.
adjective
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in very high spirits
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boastful
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askew; confused
Etymology
Origin of cock-a-hoop
First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Number 10 was cock-a-hoop, at least for half an hour or so, when this week's inflation numbers showed price rises slowing down, mainly due to falling energy prices.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2023
As the Commons got underway at 11:30 BST, Speaker John Bercow remembers the opposition being "cock-a-hoop, celebratory and condemnatory of a government that had lost the court case".
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2020
Tony Pulis will be cock-a-hoop; Arsenal Wenger will be full of fume.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2015
Forest says the restaurant’s name borrows from an Old English expression, cock-a-hoop, which, according to his online research, could mean “stand on the barrel and crow with exaltation.”
From Washington Post ● Jun. 16, 2015
It's weeks and weeks since parson came an' put him through the mill; An' his mother's mighty vain upon the subjick of his weight, An' reg'lar cock-a-hoop about his sperritual state.
From The Coo-ee Reciter by Various
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
