cheerio

See also: Cheerio

English

Etymology

From cheer and/or cheery + -o.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtʃɪəɹ.i.əʊ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈtʃɪəɹ.i.oʊ/
  • (file)

Interjection

cheerio

  1. (Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, informal) Goodbye, an interjection said upon parting.
  2. (rare) Hello; a greeting.
    • 1947, Anita Bell, He Done Her Wrong:
      Cheerio, everybody! What a delightful gathering of charming femininity!

Usage notes

Rarely used in North America. Although likely to be understood, it is likely to be considered humorous, and may be used in a parody of British English speakers.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

cheerio (plural cheerios)

  1. (New Zealand, Australia) A small saveloy often consumed with tomato sauce at parties.
    • 1978, New Zealand. Parliament. House of Representatives, Parliamentary Debates, page 4230:
      The man who has gone around the cocktail circuit pounding cheerios to the end of time did not come in here and open his mouth once on the Bill.

Synonyms

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