come to papa

See also: come to Papa

English

WOTD – 15 June 2024

Alternative forms

come to Papa

Etymology

PIE word
*ph₂tḗr

From come + to + papa (“familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father”), originally an invitation by a father for his child to come to him; later called out by gamblers when throwing dice to “invite” winning numbers.^[1]

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/, /-pəˈpɑː/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Rhymes: -ɑːpə, -ɑː
Hyphenation: come to pa‧pa

Phrase

come to papa

(idiomatic, originally US) Used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur. [from 20th c.]
Synonyms: come to daddy, come to mamma
- 1962 August 30 and September 22 (dates recorded), Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper (lyrics and music), “Relax”, in It Happened at the World’s Fair (soundtrack), performed by Elvis Presley, New York, N.Y.: RCA Victor, published 10 April 1963, →OCLC:
  Cut loose, let your hair down, honey / Unwind, turn the lights down low / Relax, let's uncork the stopper / Come to papa, come on, let's go

Translations

used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur

Finnish: tule tänne vaan (colloquial; used to encourage someone or something to approach)
Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
Swedish: komsi (komsi)

References

^ Eric Partridge (1977) “come to papa!”, in A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day, 1st Scarborough Books edition, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein and Day, published 1979, →ISBN, page 37, column 1.

[1] Eric Partridge (1977) “come to papa!”, in A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day, 1st Scarborough Books edition, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein and Day, published 1979, →ISBN, page 37, column 1.

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