Comments on: Hooptie

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:06:29 +0000

I, too, was raised in the deep south in the 1960s, and my canadian grandparents had OLD, rusted, “nail-starts-the-ignition” cars that they called “hoopie-wagons” and “hoopters”. Well predating the “Coupe-D” resurrection of the term. So I’m backing Nina and Rick’s versions of history.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:04:52 +0000

I grew up in the 50s in Arkansas hearing my grandpa and other old timers who were around when the automobile was invented, use the term “hoopy” for a dilapidated car. I never heard the the term “hooptie” until the last few years, so it seems to me that “hooptie” is a resurrected variation of the original, “hoopy.” I am a purist. I think “hooptie” just sounds like a polluted attempt at remembering a word by someone who just didn’t know :)

By: nina M

nina M — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:46:21 +0000

Here in Canada , I have heard the expression of an item being hooped. As in “that washing machine is hooped” meaning that there is no fixing it and it is not worth new parts. Any connection with a car ?

By: Thomas Brown

Thomas Brown — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:46:59 +0000

I’m with Tom Drinane. The hooptie is another kettle of fish. I’ve heard whoop-di-do shortened to “hoop-di”, uttered with eyes ablaze, fingers stretched on each side of the face, implying “hoity-toity” or in plain English, “big deal!”. I can see how this connotation could derive from “coupe de” as in “coupe de ville”.

By: Rosemarie

Rosemarie — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:18:42 +0000

Regarding the connection between “Coupe de” and “Hooptie”, I think it’s even more plausible than you do. “Coupe de Ville” is a French expression; and trying to pronounce “coupe de” with a fake French accent could easily produce “khhhooptie”; then slur into the more easily pronounced “hooptie.” Just my humble opinion!

By: Tom Drinane

Tom Drinane — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:24:44 +0000

What about the expression “whoop-di-do!”, defined as “Exclam. An expression of joy, however is often used sarcastically. [Orig. U.S.]” at http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/w.htm – the Dictionary of Slang?