whoop
- a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.
- the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.
- to utter a loud cry or shout in expressing enthusiasm, excitement, etc.
- to cry as an owl, crane, or certain other birds.
- to make the characteristic sound accompanying the deep intake of air following a series of coughs in whooping cough.
- to utter with or as if with a whoop.
- to whoop to or at.
- to call, urge, pursue, or drive with whoops: to whoop dogs on.
- (used as a cry to attract attention from afar, or to show excitement, encouragement, enthusiasm, etc.)
- whoop up, Informal. to promote or praise; extol: a class reunion where they whoop up the good old days.
- not worth a whoop, Informal. to be worthless: Their promises aren't worth a whoop.
- whoop it up, Informal.
- to raise a disturbance, as to celebrate noisily: They whooped it up after winning the big game.
- to stir up enthusiasm, as for an idea or project: Every spring they whoop it up for the circus.
Origin of whoop
whoop
- to utter (speech) with loud cries, as of enthusiasm or excitement
- med to cough convulsively with a crowing sound made at each inspiration
- (of certain birds) to utter (a hooting cry)
- (tr) to urge on or call with or as if with whoops
- whoop it up (wʊp, wuːp) informal
- to indulge in a noisy celebration
- USto arouse enthusiasm
- a loud cry, esp one expressing enthusiasm or excitement
- med the convulsive crowing sound made during a paroxysm of whooping cough
- not worth a whoop informal worthless
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for whoop it up
whoop
v.
mid-14c., houpen, partly imitative, partly from Old French houper "to cry out," also imitative. It is attested as an interjection from at least mid-15c. The noun is recorded from c.1600. Extended form whoopee is attested from 1845, originally American English; whoopee cushion is attested from 1960. Phrase whoop it up "create a disturbance" is recorded from 1884. Expression whoop-de-do is recorded from 1929. Whooping cough (1739) is now the prevalent spelling of hooping cough; whooping crane is recorded from 1791.
whoop
(hōōp, wōōp)- The paroxysmal gasp characteristic of whooping cough.
Idioms and Phrases with whoop it up
whoop it up
1
Also, make whoopee. Celebrate noisily, as in After exams they decided to whoop it up at their apartment, or Down in the basement the residents were making whoopee. The variant may be dying out. [Slang; late 1800s]
2
Arouse enthusiasm, especially politically, as in The volunteers' job is to whoop it up for the candidate. [Slang; late 1800s]