attaboy, int. slang (chiefly U.S.).
(ˈætəbɔɪ)
Also at-a-boy, ata boy.
[Said to represent careless pronunc. of that's the boy! (boy n.1 2 c).]
An exclamation expressive of encouragement or admiration. Hence attagirl, etc., as nonce-wds.
| 1909 Amer. Mag. May 40/2 Back of Chance's war cries, ‘At-a-boy’, or ‘Now ye're pitching’, may be hidden a whole command to his team. 1917 C. Mathewson Sec. Base Sloan xxii. 298 ‘Ata boy!’ called the Damascus catcher. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age iv. 26 Suddenly one of the girls..caught the bag deftly... ‘Ray! Ray! Atta girl! Hot dog! Ray, ray!’ 1925 H. L. Foster Trop. Tramp Tourists 101 The marines rose from their chairs to encourage the new performer: ‘Attaboy, soldier! Attaboy! Shake 'em doggies!’ 1927 Blackw. Mag. July 4/2 Cries, also, of ‘Attaboy!’ leave no doubt that the greeting is not entirely British. 1929 Wodehouse Summer Lightning xv. 286 ‘Give me two minutes to get the car out and five to make the trip and I'll be with you.’ ‘'At-a-boy!’ said Millicent. ‘'At-a-baby!’ said Hugo. 1932 James Joyce in New Statesman 27 Feb. 261/1 Attagirl! 1936 Auden & Isherwood Ascent of F6 ii. iii. 101 Chin up! Kiss me! Atta Boy! Dance till dawn among the ruins of a burning Troy! 1946 H. Croome Faithless Mirror x. 102 I'm celebrating. Atta girl! 1958 J. Betjeman Coll. Poems 153 Look at that little mite with Attaboy Printed across her paper sailor hat. |