pip pip

See also: pip-pip

English

WOTD – 15 October 2016

Etymology

Possibly imitative.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˌpɪpˈpɪp/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Interjection

pip pip

1. (British, colloquial) Goodbye; cheerio, toodeloo (toodle-oo), toodle pip (mostly used by the upper classes).
   • 1937 October, “Brant House” [pseudonym; G. T. Fleming-Roberts], “‘No End by Death’”, in Secret Agent “X” in The Assassins’ League, Springfield, Mass.: Periodical House, Inc., OCLC 20615773; reprinted [Doylestown, Pa.?]: Wildside Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-8095-7175-8, page 24:

     Gee-Gee struck a Fifth Avenue attitude. "Home, James. My car and chauffeur awaits me lord in the alley. Pip-pip, big stuff."

   • 2013, Kim Foster, chapter 14, in A Beautiful Heist, New York, N.Y.: Kensington Publishing Corp., →ISBN:

     "Right," Templeton said cheerfully, clapping his hands together. "Well, I'm going to leave you two kids to enjoy your champagne breakfast. Pip pip!"

   • 2013, Garry Bushell, Face Down (Face Trilogy), [Chatham, Kent?]: Caffeine Nights Publishing, →ISBN:

     "Cheerio Michael," he said loudly. "We'll go fly-fishing again soon, my boy." / "Pip pip, Mr Stevens."

2. (British, colloquial) A general greeting, mostly used by the upper classes.

   Pip pip! What's going on here?

   • 1990, Gail Golden (book), Grant Golden (music and lyrics), A Little Bit of Magic, Denver, Colo.: Pioneer Drama Service, →OCLC, page 1:

     I can do a French accent or a German accent or a British accent. (Doing British accent) Pip, pip! Lovely day, isn't it?

3. (British, colloquial) Used to create enthusiasm, mostly by the upper classes.

   Pip pip! Let's get out there and knock the stuffing out of 'em!

Usage notes

Very rarely used in North America, where it is most likely to be considered humorous and is often used in a parody of British English speakers, particularly in “Pip pip, cheerio!” or “Pip pip, old chap!”.