ENTRY NO. 0215 EXAMINED 2026-08-09 ONE CONFIGURATION ON FILE

MAKE WHOOPEE

phrase euphemism
A vaudeville-era way to say 'we had sex' without anyone reaching for smelling salts.
1

Variations

  • making whoopee
  • whoopee
  • whoopee-making
2

Origin

Popularized by the 1928 Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn song 'Makin' Whoopee,' a hit for Eddie Cantor about the regrets of a hasty marriage; the phrase itself may have been kicking around slightly earlier as general party slang before the song nailed its meaning to sex specifically.

3

Examples

"The newlyweds snuck off early, presumably to make whoopee."
"Grandpa's diary just says 'made whoopee, regret nothing,' which is more than any of us needed to know."
"The sitcom cut to a shot of curtains blowing to imply they were making whoopee off-screen."
4

Cultural context

Firmly retro at this point — using it unironically signals either genuine old-fashioned charm or a bit, and most listeners under 40 will register it as the latter regardless of intent.

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