Whoop and a holler

Posted by Henry on February 28, 2005

In Reply to: Hoop and a Hollar posted by ESC on February 26, 2005

: : : Where did this phrase come from?

: : Recte, "a whoop and a holler." That is a shout and a shout. I don't know where it comes from. A whoop is a somewhat different noise from a holler. SS

: Maybe it means within shouting distance. In the days before telephones, people yelled to their neighbors. Just a guess.

The Pony Man is leading 'cause he's traveled here before
And he gives a whoop and a holler at Mister Moon's front door
From The Pony Man by Gordon Lightfoot
I think it simply means to shout, in this case to make his presence known. It's repetitive and alliterative, like time and tide.