whoopee

Everyday

1. «Whoopee!» is a word you shout when you are very happy and excited. tree →
2. It can also be said sarcastically, meaning «so what, that is not exciting» («Oh, whoopee, more homework»). tree →
3. A whoopee cushion is a joke rubber cushion that makes a rude noise when someone sits on it. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and comics characters shout «Whoopee!» when they win or something great happens. In everyday life children know the whoopee cushion as a prank toy. Tone matters: said with a flat voice, it means the opposite of excited.

Examples

• Whoopee, school is closed for snow! tree →
• «Whoopee!» shouted Sam as he went down the slide. tree →
• We won the match — whoopee! tree →
• «Oh, whoopee, another spelling test,» she said with a sigh. tree →
• He hid a whoopee cushion on the teacher's chair. tree →
• Everyone laughed when the whoopee cushion went off. tree →
• Grandpa said «Whoopee!» when he heard the good news. tree →
• Whoopee, it's pizza night! tree →

Note

An exclamation, usually with «!». Similar: «hooray», «yippee», «woo-hoo». Sarcastic use is common, so listen to the voice. The phrase «make whoopee» is grown-up slang; children do not need to use it. Pranks with a whoopee cushion should be kind and never hurt or embarrass someone badly.