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Boo vs Yay - What's the difference?

boo | yay |

As interjections the difference between boo and yay

is that boo is a loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly while yay is alternative form of lang=en yes.

As nouns the difference between boo and yay

is that boo is a derisive shout made to indicate disapproval while yay is the name of the letter for the y sound in Pitman shorthand.

As a verb boo

is to shout extended boos derisively.

As an adverb yay is

so, this (accompanied by a hand gesture.

boo

English

Etymology 1

Coined to create a loud and startling sound. Compare Latin .

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • A loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly.
  • A word used ironically in a situation where one might have scared someone, but said someone was not scared. Not said as loudly as in definition 1.
  • An exclamation used by a member or many members of an audience, as at a stage play or sports game, to indicate derision or disapproval of what has just occurred.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Sam Sheringham , title=Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=...Hodgson headed down the tunnel with the boos of fans ringing in his ears after an eighth league defeat of the season...}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shout extended boos derisively.
    • When he took the podium, the crowd booed .
  • * 2004 , The New Yorker, 18 Oct 2004
    • Nobody booed and nobody clapped
  • To derisively shout extended boos at.
    • The protesters loudly booed the visiting senator.

    Etymology 2

    From beau.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, AAVE, slang) A close acquaintance or significant other.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----

    yay

    English

    Alternative forms

    * yea

    Etymology 1

    Alteration of . More at (l).

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (colloquial) (yes).
  • (colloquial)
    • Yay! I have finally finished my work!
    Synonyms
    * (an expression of happiness) hooray
    Derived terms
    * yayness

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (chiefly, US) so, this (accompanied by a hand gesture)
    • The pony was yay high.

    Alternative forms

    * yea

    See also

    * nay

    Etymology 2

    : From the sound it represents, by analogy with the other palatal letters chay'' and ''jay .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The name of the letter for the y sound in Pitman shorthand.
    • Related terms
    * wye, the name of the Latin letter for this sound

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) llello.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (US, slang) Cocaine.
  • * 2006 , " They Shootin'", Vibe , December 2006:
    • In Billy Corben's engrossing new documentary, Cocaine Cowboys (Magnolia Pictures), self-described "assassin" Jorge "Rivi" Ayala (among others) give up the goods on Miami's explosive early '80s yay trade.
  • * 2009 , Tyrone Pierson, Murder in the Moonlight , AuthorHouse (2009), ISBN 9781438965154, page 339:
    • I'm in charge of a whole city block, and I always wear gloves when I touch the yay , cuz traces of cocaine show up on my u. a., when I touch it with my bare hands.
  • * 2012 , :
    • I don't do yay , but if you want to, fine
    Synonyms
    * See also . English palindromes ----