Hooray

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mnichols0
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Hooray

Postby mnichols0 » Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:50 pm

Hooray is an exclamation used to express joy or approval, except in New Zealand, where it means "goodbye" (go figure).

It is said to be a late 19th century variant of hurrah, itself formed in the late 17th century as a variant of huzzah, which is speculated to be used originally as a sailor's cry when hauling. Its history before that is obscured by the fog of time.

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Slava
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Re: Hooray

Postby Slava » Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:01 am

Would people agree that hoo-rah is often used sarcastically? As in, "What's the big hoo-rah?"

I note also that American English once had hurra's nest, meaning a state of confusion. Has anyone ever come across this? I sure haven't.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

bbeeton
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Re: Hooray

Postby bbeeton » Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:27 am

My mother invariably described my room as a hurrah's nest. Merriam-Webster provides a context that makes sense:
a tangle of debris blocking a trail or stream


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