ooh la la
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]French oh là là / ouh là là, an exclamation of surprise, concern, or dismay. The French exclamation lacks the connotations of the English, either of snobbery or raciness; these emerged in English owing to stereotypes about the French.
Pronunciation
[edit]Interjection
[edit]- A rejoinder indicating that the speaker asserts (either reproachfully or jocularly) that the interlocutor (or someone else that they are discussing) is putting on airs; often when the interlocutor has used a big word, especially a loanword that English got from French.
- Oh, they were serving croque-monsieurs, now were they? Ooh la la.
- An exclamation of surprise, sometimes with strong sexual connotations.
- Ooh la la, monsieur, you do have big muscles after all.
- 1957, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (lyrics and music), “Wake Up Little Susie”, performed by The Everly Brothers:
- Well, what are we gonna tell your mama? / What are we gonna tell your pa? / What are we gonna tell our friends / When they say, "Ooh la la!"