9 Grammatical Pitfalls


[hoop, hoo p; especially for 1, 11–4, 6–9 hwoop, hwoo p, woop, woo p] /hup, hʊp; especially for 1, 11–4, 6–9 ʰwup, ʰwʊp, wup, wʊp/
a loud cry or shout, as of excitement or joy.
the sound made by a person suffering from whooping cough.
verb (used without object)
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.
verb (used with object)
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.)
Verb phrases
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.
  1. to raise a disturbance, as to celebrate noisily:
    They whooped it up after winning the big game.
  2. to stir up enthusiasm, as for an idea or project:
    Every spring they whoop it up for the circus.
Origin of whoop
1350-1400; Middle English whopen, Old English hwōpan to threaten; cognate with Gothic hwopan to boast Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for whoop it up


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)
(transitive) to urge on or call with or as if with whoops
(informal) whoop it up (wʊp; wuːp)
  1. to indulge in a noisy celebration
  2. (US) to arouse enthusiasm
a loud cry, esp one expressing enthusiasm or excitement
(med) the convulsive crowing sound made during a paroxysm of whooping cough
(informal) not worth a whoop, worthless
See also whoops
Word Origin
C14: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for whoop it up



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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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whoop it up in Medicine

whoop (hōōp, hwōōp, wōōp)
The paroxysmal gasp characteristic of whooping cough.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Slang definitions & phrases for whoop it up

whole shebang, the

noun phrase

The totality; everything; the whole thing; the WHOLE SCHMEAR: We could move the whole shebang/ The whole shebang is festive, pleasantly show-offy and communal

[1895+; fr mid-1800s shebang, ''hut, hovel,'' perhaps fr Irish shebeen, ''cheap saloon,'' hence ''the house and everything in it'']

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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Idioms and Phrases with whoop it up

whoop it up

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. [ ; late 1800s ]
Arouse enthusiasm, especially politically, as in The volunteers' job is to whoop it up for the candidate. [ ; late 1800s ]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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