shoo

[ shoo ]

interjection

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

verb (used with object)

, shooed, shoo·ing.

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, shoo·ing.

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

He shooed the wasps away as he inspected a crimson smear on the rubble.

From Los Angeles Times

If the Dodgers and starter Walker Buehler shoo away the pesky Padres one more time, the game will end with a dogpile on the mound and champagne in the clubhouse.

From Los Angeles Times

A security guard, David Portillo, was shooing away two men who appeared to be high on something.

From Los Angeles Times

He shouted out his words, not at all the joyful warrior of Harris-Walz fashion, but more like a cranky old man shooing kids off his lawn.

From Los Angeles Times

And when the popular French band, Phoenix, played a mini-concert late in the program, athletes got so excited they rushed the stage and had to be shooed away by the public address announcer.

From Los Angeles Times