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Give it up for...

Posted by Bob on October 11, 2007

In Reply to: Give it up for... posted by Victoria S Dennis on October 11, 2007

: : : When introducing an act or singer or other form of entertainment the person introducing them will say "Give it up for" and the entertainment commences as the audience claps. Where did this phrase come from and does it have a particular meaning?

: :
: : It means clap your hands. Obviously what's given is a round of applause. But "giving it up," as in surrendering, yielding? I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable than I.

: FWIW, I have never heard that used in the UK. (VSD)

First use I remember was by Arsenio Hall, who made it into a bit of a catch phrase on his television show that began in January 1987. There may (of course) be earlier usages.

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