oomph
[oo mf]
- energy; vitality; enthusiasm.
- sex appeal.
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Origin of oomph
An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; imitative of the sound made during exertion, as in lifting a heavy object
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for oomph
Contemporary Examples
Any good Baby Boom boy my age can testify that the oomph went out of American family car design in 1963.
All the oomph in the U.S. economy was delivered by the top 10% of households.
Historical Examples
About the only remarks that could be elicited from the "little yaller man" were a reluctant "oomph" or "oomph-uh."
Americans AllVarious
Then a look of intelligence came into mammy's fat face, "Oomph," she said.
The Strength of Gideon and Other StoriesPaul Laurence Dunbar
oomph
- enthusiasm, vigour, or energy
- sex appeal
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Word Origin
C20: perhaps imitative of the bellow of a mating bull
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 oomph
"sexual attractiveness," 1937, suggestive visceral physical sound. Ann Sheridan (1915–1967) was the original Hollywood oomph girl (1939).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper