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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Whoop-de-do
(1) The surgery had been unsuccessful, the doctor informed him. There was nothing more that could be done.
“So I’m dying?” the patient asked.
The doctor hesitated. “Yes,” he said.
“You’re dying, Dad,” his daughter affirmed.
“So,” the patient mused, “no more whoop-de-doo.”
(2) “She can cook a five-course meal in an hour.” “Whoop-de-do.” [=so what?; who cares?]
Apart from these two usages, one of my dictionaries list the following definitions:
(1) noisy and exuberant or attention-getting activity (as at a social affair or in a political campaign)
[This seems to be the usage exemplified by example (1) above]
(2) a lively social affair
(3) agitated public discussion or debate
Are all these usages common?
“So I’m dying?” the patient asked.
The doctor hesitated. “Yes,” he said.
“You’re dying, Dad,” his daughter affirmed.
“So,” the patient mused, “no more whoop-de-doo.”
(2) “She can cook a five-course meal in an hour.” “Whoop-de-do.” [=so what?; who cares?]
Apart from these two usages, one of my dictionaries list the following definitions:
(1) noisy and exuberant or attention-getting activity (as at a social affair or in a political campaign)
[This seems to be the usage exemplified by example (1) above]
(2) a lively social affair
(3) agitated public discussion or debate
Are all these usages common?
Top answer
Hi, (1) The surgery had been unsuccessful, the doctor informed him. There was nothing more that could be done. ” the patient asked.
- Hi, (1) The surgery had been unsuccessful, the doctor informed him.
- There was nothing more that could be done.
- ” the patient asked.
- The doctor hesitated.
- “Yes,” he said.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
(1) The surgery had been unsuccessful, the doctor informed him. There was nothing more that could be done.
“So I’m dying?” the patient asked.
The doctor hesitated. “Yes,” he said.
“You’re dying, Dad,” his daughter affirmed.
“So,” the patient mused, “no more whoop-de-doo.”
Not unusual.
(2) “She can cook a five-course meal
(1) The surgery had been unsuccessful, the doctor informed him. There was nothing more that could be done.
“So I’m dying?” the patient asked.
The doctor hesitated. “Yes,” he said.
“You’re dying, Dad,” his daughter affirmed.
“So,” the patient mused, “no more whoop-de-doo.”
Not unusual.
(2) “She can cook a five-course meal
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