attaboyint.
/ˈatəbɔɪ/, U.S. /ˈædəˌbɔɪ/ slang (chiefly U.S.).
An exclamation expressive of encouragement or admiration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > encouragement to hope [interjection]
nil desperandum1621
never say die1836
attaboy1909
attagirl1924
thataboy1936
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > expressions of commendation [interjection]
well-donea1500
macte1573
hear- him1727
hear1768
that's your sort1792
top marks1829
that's the spirit1853
good for you (also him, her, etc.)1855
good man1887
good egg1903
attaboy1909
to go up (also down) one1909
right on1911
hotcha1931
thataboy1936
hubba-hubba1944
chapeau1976
1909 Amer. Mag. May 40/2 Back of Chance's war cries, ‘At-a-boy’, or ‘Now ye're pitching’, may be hidden a whole command to his team.
1917 C. Mathewson Second Base Sloan xxii. 298 ‘Ata boy!’ called the Damascus catcher.
1925 H. L. Foster Trop. Tramp with Tourists 101 The marines rose from their chairs to encourage the new performer: ‘Attaboy, soldier! Attaboy! Shake 'em doggies!’
1927 Blackwood's Mag. July 4/2 Cries, also, of ‘Attaboy!’ leave no doubt that the greeting is not entirely British.
1929 P. G. Wodehouse Summer Lightning xv. 286 ‘Give me two minutes to get the car out and five to make the trip and I'll be with you.’ ‘'At-a-boy!’ said Millicent. ‘'At-a-baby!’ said Hugo.
1936 W. H. Auden & C. Isherwood Ascent of F6 ii. iii. 101 Chin up! Kiss me! Atta Boy! Dance till dawn among the ruins of a burning Troy!
1958 J. Betjeman Coll. Poems 153 Look at that little mite with Attaboy Printed across her paper sailor hat.
Derivatives
attagirl n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > encouragement to hope [interjection]
nil desperandum1621
never say die1836
attaboy1909
attagirl1924
thataboy1936
1924 P. Marks Plastic Age iv. 26 Suddenly one of the girls..caught the bag deftly... ‘Ray! Ray! Atta girl! Hot dog! Ray, ray!’
1932 James Joyce in New Statesman 27 Feb. 261/1 Attagirl!
1946 H. Croome Faithless Mirror x. 102 I'm celebrating. Atta girl!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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int.1909