ecky thump
- idiom
- /ˈɛki θʌmp/
- Archaic
- When he saw the bill, he cried out 'ecky thump!' in shock.
Examples
-
Ecky thump! I can't believe you did that!
-
Did you just say that? Ecky thump!
-
Ecky thump! That news was the last thing I expected.
-
Ecky thump, it’s freezing out here today!
-
Ecky thump! That news was the last thing I expected.
-
Ecky thump, it’s freezing out here today!
-
Ecky thump! I can't believe you did that!
Synonyms
∞
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
169
9.9
A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked
147
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
63
9.9
A word people say to show mild surprise
60
9.3
A short sound people make to show they feel annoyed or do not believe something
39
9.9
A short word people say to show surprise, discomfort, or embarrassment
29
9.4
A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling
16
8.3
A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement
15
9.9
An old-fashioned word people say to show surprise
11
7.5
A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock
10
9.5
A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked
7
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise or shock
7
9.6
A short cry of fear or surprise when something suddenly scares you
6
9.1
A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain
6
9.9
A short informal word people say to show surprise or shock
6
9.9
A mild word people say when they are surprised or annoyed
4
9.9
A short exclamation used to show surprise or get someone's attention
3
9.9
A short cry showing fear, surprise, or embarrassment
2
9.9
An old-fashioned word people say to show disbelief or annoyance
2
9.9
An old-fashioned shout to show surprise or annoyance
2
9.9
An old-fashioned shout said to show surprise or shock
2
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise or anger
2
9.9
A short word said to show mild surprise, annoyance, or frustration
2
9.9
An exclamation that shows strong anger or surprise as a mild swear
2
9.9
An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something
1
8.4
A short sound people make when they suddenly understand something
1
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise, anger, or shock
1
9.9
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
1
9.9
A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance
1
9.9
A rude spoken word used to show surprise, anger or admiration
1
9.9
An old word people say to show surprise or strong feeling
A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief
A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or do not believe something
An informal rude phrase said to show surprise or not believe something
To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise
Surface Forms
Morphology
ecky + thump
Both elements of 'ecky thump' are dialectal/non-standard items with no clear literal meanings in general dictionaries, and the phrase is a fixed regional exclamation expressing surprise. Because its meaning is idiomatic and not compositionally derivable from recognizable constituent meanings, a B1 learner who only knew the parts would not be able to infer the exclamation's sense.
Etymology
The exclamation ecky thump may come from old northern English speech where ecky is a short shocked sound and thump means a sudden hit. That's why people imagine someone getting a quick knock and crying out, and the phrase is used to show 'surprise' or 'disbelief'.