Mexican wave

British  

noun

1. the rippling effect produced when the spectators in successive sections of a sports stadium stand up while raising their arms and then sit down

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Etymology

Origin of Mexican wave

C20: so called because it was first demonstrated at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986

Example Sentences

Other planned events include “the largest Mexican wave ever performed” and a “giant karaoke.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2023

The Mexican wave in a stadium looks like a pattern traveling across the tiers.

From Science Daily • Sep. 29, 2023

At one point a huge Mexican wave erupted, which even the umpire could not stop, and so Williams proceeded to serve anyway while the noisy party continued.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2022

Some MPs tried to mark the occasion with a Mexican wave while the world’s TV cameras looked on in amazement.

From The Guardian • Mar. 29, 2019

Just like a Mexican wave through a stadium, once a jump-yip is instigated, it will travel through an entire colony, each prairie dog jumping and yipping after its closest colony mate has jumped and yipped.

From Scientific American • Jan. 8, 2014