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Etymology Journal ยท W

What's the big whoop?

Meaning

A dismissive phrase used to suggest that someone is overreacting to a situation. It mocks the importance of the event being discussed.

Dismissive, sarcastic

Used in a sentence

  • So you got a coupon for fifty cents off? What's the big whoop?
  • He was bragging about his new tie like he won an award, so I asked, what's the big whoop?
  • I don't see why everyone is crying about the change in the office coffee brand, what's the big whoop?

The backstory

The term whoop comes from an exclamation of excitement, and adding big serves to deflate the magnitude of the news. It is a distinctly American bit of conversational sarcasm.

Heard in

Nationwide

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