whoop-de-do

or whoop-de-doo

[ hoop-dee-doo, -doo, hoop-, hwoop-, hwoop-, woop-, woop- ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural whoop-de-dos.

1. lively and noisy festivities; merrymaking:

   New Year's Eve whoop-de-do.

2. heated discussion or debate, especially in public:

   a whoop-de-do over the new tax bill.

3. extravagant publicity or fanfare:

   the whoop-de-do of a movie premiere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of whoop-de-do¹

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; origin uncertain; whoop

Related Words

• debauchery
• festivity