boo

boo

slang One's romantic partner. Often used as a term of endearment. I don't have any plans tonight—just staying home with my boo. Come on, boo, are you ready to go yet? A: "I'm surprised she came solo—she almost always has her boo with her." B: "I know, those two are kind of nauseating."

boo (one) off (the) stage

To voice displeasure (by booing) for a performer or performers to the extent that they decide to leave the stage. Are you sure you want to perform at that rowdy club? The crowd there is known to boo people off the stage. What if I forget all the words to the song? Will they boo me off stage? I'm not surprised the audience booed that washed-up old singer off the stage—he was terrible!

See also: boo, off, stage

boo bird

slang Someone who is apt to boo, typically at a sporting event. That questionable call against the home team has brought the boo-birds out in full force. Are you sure you want to perform at that rowdy club? The crowd there is usually populated by boo birds. If you forget all the words to the song while you're on stage, the boo birds will definitely have something to say about it!

See also: bird, boo

boo off

To voice displeasure (by booing) for a performer or performers to the extent that they decide to leave the stage. A noun or pronoun can be used between "boo" and "off." Are you sure you want to perform at that rowdy club? The crowd there is known to boo people off. The audience began booing off the singer after he forgot the words to his song. I'm not surprised that washed-up old singer was booed off—he was terrible!

See also: boo, off

Boo, hiss!

interjection, informal An expression of displeasure, disagreement, or disappointment. The comma is often omitted. A: "Your mom and I were thinking we might go to see Aunt Sally in Delaware this summer instead of Disney World." B: "Boo, hiss!" It sounds like the boss is going to have us come in on Saturday after all, boo hiss! Aw, we're not having pizza for dinner? Boo hiss.

boo-boo

1. A minor blunder, error, or mistake. I think you made a boo-boo and listed some of the expenses twice. It was pretty cold the entire time we were there, so not packing a coat for the trip turned out to be a real boo-boo. Aw, don't worry, you just made a bit of a boo-boo, that's all.

2. childish A very minor injury. Let me put a Band-Aid on your boo-boo, sweetheart. A: "Mama, I got a boo-boo." B: "Aww, let me kiss it and make it better." My son is fascinated with boo-boos these days, so I'm sure he'll ask you about the bruises on your leg. I'm sorry in advance!

can't say boo to a goose

Is particularly shy, nervous, or diffident. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who can't say boo to a goose. How can you suspect that he committed this crime? The neighbor's daughter is just the cutest little thing, but she can't say boo to a goose. I know you had something to do with this vandalism! Don't act like you can't say boo to a goose now!

See also: boo, goose, say, to

make a boo-boo

To make a silly or trivial mistake. Co-opts the childish word "boo-boo," meaning a superficial injury. Don't stress over it, Bob, they're not going to fire you for making a boo-boo or two. I was trying to fix the carburetor, but I think I may have made a boo-boo.

See also: make

na-na na-na boo-boo

A teasing nonsense phrase typically said by children. You can't catch me! Na-na na-na boo-boo!

not say boo (to anyone)

1. To be particularly shy, diffident, or timid by nature. Primarily heard in US. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn't say boo to anyone. How can you suspect him of committing this crime?

2. To not say a word (to anyone); to keep quiet. Primarily heard in US. The neighbor's daughter is just the cutest little thing, but she wouldn't say boo the whole time we were there. I trust you didn't say boo to those coppers about the little side business we've been running here?

See also: boo, not, say

not say boo to a fly

To be particularly shy, diffident, or timid by nature. Primarily heard in Australia. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn't say boo to a fly. How can you suspect him of committing this crime? The neighbour's daughter is just the cutest little thing, but she couldn't say boo to a fly.

See also: boo, fly, not, say, to

not say boo to a goose

To be particularly shy, diffident, or timid by nature. Primarily heard in UK. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who can't say boo to a goose. How can you suspect that he committed this crime? The neighbour's daughter is just the cutest little thing, but she won't say boo to a goose.

See also: boo, goose, not, say, to

say boo

To say nothing at all. No one said boo when I asked for dinner suggestions, so I don't want to hear any complaints about what I made.

See also: boo, say

tickety-boo

informal Fine or all right. Primarily heard in UK, Canada. Don't worry about us, everything is tickety-boo here.

wouldn't say boo to a goose

Is particularly shy, nervous, or diffident. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn't say boo to a goose. How can you suspect that he committed this crime?

See also: boo, goose, say, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

boo someone off the stage

 and boo someone off

to jeer and hoot, causing a performer to leave the stage. The rude audience booed the performer off the stage. The audience booed off the comedian.

See also: boo, off, stage

can't say boo to a goose

Rur. shy and not talkative. I was surprised to see Joe so talkative at the party. Usually he can't say boo to a goose. She's a quiet little kid. Can't say boo to a goose.

See also: boo, goose, say, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

wouldn't say boo to a goose

BRITISH, INFORMAL

If you say that someone wouldn't say boo to a goose, you mean that they are very quiet, shy, and nervous. `If you remember, at college I wouldn't say boo to a goose.' — `That's right, you were very quiet.' She recalled a shy, overweight girl who wouldn't say boo to a goose

See also: boo, goose, say, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

wouldn't say boo to a goose

(of a person) very shy or reticent.

1948 P. G. Wodehouse Uncle Dynamite She looks on you as a…poor, spineless sheep who can't say boo to a goose.

See also: boo, goose, say, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

he, she, etc. wouldn’t say ˌboo to a ˈgoose

(informal) somebody is very shy and afraid of upsetting or annoying people: How could he ever succeed in politics? He wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

People shout Boo! when they want to surprise or frighten somebody.

See also: boo, goose, say, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

boo-bird

(ˈbuˈbɚd)

n. a person who boos frequently at games or other public events. The catcher turned and stared right at the loudmouthed boo-bird. Everybody knew what he was thinking.

boo-boo

(ˈbubu)

1. n. an error. (see also make a boo-boo.) It’s only a small boo-boo. Don’t stress yourself.

2. n. a hurt; a cut; a bruise. She has a little boo-boo on her knee.

make a boo-boo

tv. to make an error. (see also boo-boo.) Everybody makes a boo-boo every now and then.

See also: make

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.