Did you
know?

toodle pip
greeting

- good bye, see you later

(Oxford English Dictionary)

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Toodle pip is a very British and informal way to bid farewell. Although not etymologically old - it first appeared in print around 1907 - it is meanwhile outdated. About the only time one hears it used these days is when an American tries to speak with a phony British accent. Like with many words and phrases of unknown origin, theories abound as to how the expression evolved. One theory is that it derived from an English dialect word meaning to walk or wander off, such as in "I'll be toodling along now."

Others suggest that toodle pip is related to the French "tout a l'heure," meaning see you later. Some experts reject this theory under the premise that during the time the expression surfaced, the English would have rather cut off a leg than adopt a phrase from the French. That sounds a bit over the top though.

The Word Detective points out another theory that is based on the sound that bicycles and automobile horns made in former times. This also lines up well with the development of "pip-pip" (humorous way to say good bye), which did in fact derive from the sound of a car horn.

Toodle pip joins other "typical" British expressions that are as outdated as audio cassettes and rotary dial telephones, but are still fun to use.

Here are a few other examples:

- tally ho! = let's get started!

- sally forth = to take off, leave

- spot of tea = to have a cup of tea

- quite, quite! = yes indeed!

- jolly good = excellent, outstanding

- cheerio = good bye

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SYNONYMS

adieu, bye bye, adios, ciao, so long, toodle-oo

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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation

"It's been a wonderful evening, but it's late and I have a long drive home. Toodle pip!"