yippee ki yay
Wild West whooping
Yippee ki yay is an exuberant cowboy exclamation, originally expressing joy or triumph in Western films and rodeo culture.
The phrase gained wider recognition through the *Die Hard* movies, where Bruce Willis's character uses it—usually followed by an obscenity—as a defiant taunt: Yippee ki yay, motherfucker.
Now often invoked ironically or as a pop culture reference.
- motherfuckerObscene insult or intensifier
- action heroFilm's combat-driven protagonist
- Die HardYippee-ki-yay thriller
- cowboyMounted cattle herder
- actionProcess of doing
Bruce Willis · explosion · catchphrase · badass · tough guy · one-liner · defiant · gun · Christmas · Christmas movie · McClane · sarcastic · make my day · rebel · Hollywood · macho · swagger · quip
- catchphrasescatchphrase, why so serious, cowabunga, good grief, yabba dabba doo
yippee ki yaygood evening
Nighttime salutation
how do you do · ladies and gentlemen · with all due respect · I beg your pardon · dear sir or madam
yippee ki yayalas
Expression of regret
woe is me · I surrender · I give up · oh dear · sigh
yippee ki yayindubitably
Beyond any doubt
tally ho · rather · jolly good · I say · stiff upper lip