Learn English Logo

English in Use - Swanny's Drip Drip Hooray

A selection of headlines from stories in the news. They use English in a way that you might think is intended to confuse but it's all perfectly clear to the native speaker.

 

I couldn't let England's Ashes victory go unmentioned, so I searched the tabloids and found this headline in the Sun.  "Swanny's Drip Drip Hooray" is their headline for a story about English cricketer Graeme Swann, who, following the incredible 3-1 Ashes win over the Aussies in Sydney, did his (in)famous "sprinkler dance" under the sprinklers of the SGC.

In this context a drip is a drop of liquid, referring to the sprinklers, but the headline is a play on the phrase "hip hip hooray", which is the traditional response to the acclamation, "Three cheers for...", where the initiator calls out "Hip Hip" three times and each time other people respond with "Hooray".   You often hear it at children's birthday parties or other celebrations.

Discover more from Learn English

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram