hoot

[hoot]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoot ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

to utter a similar sound.

Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

verb (used with object)

to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision: The fans hooted the umpire.

to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

to express in hoots: The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

noun

the cry of an owl.

any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

British. a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

Informal. the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle: His religion doesn't matter a hoot to me.

Slang. an extremely funny person, situation, or event: Your cousin is such a hoot!

Idioms

not give/care a hoot, Informal. to not care at all: I don't give a hoot.Also not give/care two hoots.

Origin of hoot

1150–1200; Middle English hoten, huten, houten (verb); perhaps imitative

Related formshoot·ing·ly, adverbun·hoot·ed, adjective

Synonyms for hoot

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoot ON THESAURUS.COM

1, 5. jeer, boo, hiss. 5. razz.

hoot

or hoots

[hoot]

interjection Scot. and North England.

(used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

Origin of hoot

1675–85; compare Swedish hut, Welsh hwt, Irish ut begone!

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for hoot

jeer, boo, whistle, hiss, heckle, scream, howl, scorn, razz, catcall

Examples from the Web for hoot

Contemporary Examples of hoot

Hooters is cleverly asking me to “Give a Hoot” about breast cancer.
The Misogynistic Companies Jumping On The Breast Cancer Bandwagon
Emily Shire
October 16, 2014
I thought you were a hoot on Community as the lawyer for the estate of Pierce.
Kentucky’s Finest Antihero: Walton Goggins on Justified’s Chameleon Villain
Allen Barra
February 11, 2014
The Explosion at the Wig Factory was about as big of a hoot as you can comfortably call a tragedy like an explosion.
‘American Hustle’ Is Overrated
Kevin Fallon
January 28, 2014
The Palestinian Authority didn't give a hoot what the reasons were.
If You Build It, They Will Skate
Maysoon Zayid
July 17, 2013
“ John F. Kennedy Jr. was a hoot to do at his first convention,” Sheehan says.
Today's King's Speech Guru
Sandra McElwaine
February 26, 2011

Historical Examples of hoot

Anyway, we can tell in a minute or two, 'cause them owls are sure to hoot again.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
But I thought that there was a hoot of laughter in the high wail of the wind.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
It was between nine and ten o'clock that Jack heard the hoot of an owl.
Oh, You Tex!
William Macleod Raine
Take away the castles, and not even a German would give a hoot for it.
A Book of Burlesques
H. L. Mencken
He grinned to himself, and just then the hoot of an owl sounded.
The Boy Scouts on the Trail
George Durston

British Dictionary definitions for hoot

hoot

noun

the mournful wavering cry of some owls

a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle

a jeer of derision

informal an amusing person or thingthe weekend was a hoot

not give a hoot not to care at all

verb

(often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)

(tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting

(intr) to make a hoot

(intr) British to blow a horn

Word Origin for hoot

C13 hoten, of imitative origin

hoot

hoots (huːts)

interjection

an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

Word Origin for hoot

C17: of unknown origin

hoot

noun

Australian and NZ a slang word for money

Word Origin for hoot

from Māori utu price

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hoot

"to call or shout in disapproval or scorn," c.1600, probably related to or from huten, "to shout, call out" (c.1200), probably ultimately imitative. First used of bird cries, especially that of the owl, mid-15c. Related: Hooted; hooting. As a noun from mid-15c. Meaning "a laugh, something funny" is first recorded 1942. Slang sense of "smallest amount or particle" (The hoot you don't give when you don't care) is from 1891.

"A dod blasted ole fool!" answered the captain, who, till now, had been merely an amused on-looker. "Ye know all this rumpus wont do nobuddy a hoot o' good--not a hoot." ["Alonge Traverse Shores," Traverse City, Michigan, 1891]

Hooter in the same sense is from 1839.

HOOTER. Probably a corruption of iota. Common in New York in such phrases as "I don't care a hooter for him." "This note ain't worth a hooter." [John Russell Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1877]

Idioms and Phrases with hoot

hoot

see not give a damn (hoot).