zip-a-dee-doo-dahhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zip-a-dee-doo-dah_int%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezip-a-dee-doo-dah, int. & adj.
First published 2021

zip-a-dee-doo-dahinterjection & adjective

colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.).
  1. interjection
    1. 1945–
      Expressing delight, excitement, elation, etc. Now often ironic.
      First used as the title and refrain of a song featured in the Walt Disney film, Song of the South. The lyrics are based on those of the minstrel song Zip Coon (see etymological note, and zip coon n.), and represent the speech of the African American character Uncle Remus. See quot. 1945.
      1. 1945
        Zip a dee doo dah! Zip a dee ay! My oh my what a wonderful day!
        R. Gilbert, Zip a Dee Doo Dah (song) in D. S. Reymond et al., Uncle Remus (film script, revised final draft of ‘Song of the South’) (Louisiana State University Library) Revised a1
      2. 1987
        Nothing compares with being in love. Zippity-doo-dah, I'm in love!
        O. Winfrey in Ladies' Home Journal March 64/2
      3. 2002
        She got involved with AIDS charities. Well, zipadeedoodah. Look closer and you'll find her always highly publicized ‘involvement’..was often no more than a quick stop-off to shake a few hands between shopping trips.
        S. Gage et al., Queer 17/1
  2. adjective
    1. 1945–
      Causing or characterized by delight, excitement, elation, etc.; wonderful, fantastic, great. Now often ironic.
      In quot. 1945 representing African American speech.
      1. 1945
        It happen' on one o' dem zip-a-dee-doo-dah-days. Now dat's de kin' o' day when you can't open yo' mouf' widout a song jump right out of it.
        D. S. Reymond et al., Uncle Remus (film script, revised final draft of ‘Song of the South’) (Louisiana State University Library) Revised a1
      2. 2002
        If Lieutenant C. R. Molina had meant to destroy Temple's zip-a-dee-doo-dah mood, she couldn't have done better had she gone to graduate school in Killjoy 101.
        C. N. Douglas, Cat in Midnight Choir (2003) xi. 100
      3. 2012
        Based on the ‘Mo' Money=Mo' Problems’ concept, I should be just zippitydoodah for the considerable future.
        @tannerhawkns 25 November in twitter.com (accessed 7 Feb. 2020)

zip-a-dee-doo-dah, int. & adj. was first published in March 2021.

zip-a-dee-doo-dah, int. & adj. was last modified in July 2023.