shoo

[shoo]

interjection

1. (used to scare or drive away a cat, dog, chickens, birds, etc.)

verb (used with object)

shooed, shooing 

1. to drive away by saying or shouting “shoo.”

2. to request or force (a person) to leave.

   I'll have to shoo you out of here now.

verb (used without object)

shooed, shooing 

1. to call out “shoo.”

shoo

/ ʃuː /

interjection

1. go away!: used to drive away unwanted or annoying people, animals, etc

verb

1. (tr) to drive away by or as if by crying "shoo."

2. (intr) to cry "shoo."

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoo¹

1475–85; earlier showe, shough, shooh, ssou (interjection), imitative; compare German schu

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoo¹

C15: imitative; related to Middle High German schū, French shou, Italian scio

Example Sentences

Penelope shooed them into the night nursery and ordered them to nap or read in their beds until Margaret arrived with the hot-water bottle.

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Penelope’s scalp was already sweaty beneath her pith helmet, and she found herself shooing away imaginary gnats.

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In some cases, residents have tried to shoo away dogs from feeding spots to discourage people from providing them food.

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It had been spooked by neighbors who were making noise to shoo it away.

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Most people are inclined to shoo flies away from food, and the thought of maggots in your bins is enough to make anyone's stomach turn.

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