ooh la la

• oo-la-la

French oh là là / ouh là là, an exclamation of surprise, concern, or dismay. The French exclamation lacks the connotations of the English, either of snobbery or raciness; these emerged in English owing to stereotypes about the French.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈuː.læ.læ/, /ˈuː.læ.lɑː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /u.lɑˈlɑ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː

ooh la la

1. A rejoinder indicating that the speaker asserts (either reproachfully or jocularly) that the interlocutor (or someone else that they are discussing) is putting on airs; often when the interlocutor has used a big word, especially a loanword that English got from French.

   Oh, they were serving croque-monsieurs, now were they? Ooh la la.

2. An exclamation of surprise, sometimes with strong sexual connotations.

   Ooh la la, monsieur, you do have big muscles after all.

   • 1957, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (lyrics and music), “Wake Up Little Susie”, performed by The Everly Brothers:

     Well, what are we gonna tell your mama? / What are we gonna tell your pa? / What are we gonna tell our friends / When they say, "Ooh la la!"