noun General Slang

Bronx Cheer

/ˌbrɒŋks ˈtʃɪər/ · noun · slang

A rude raspberry blown to show contempt, named for New York's loudest borough of hecklers.

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Definitions

1

A derisive sound made by sticking out the tongue and blowing, expressing mockery or disapproval; a raspberry.

“The crowd gave the umpire a loud Bronx cheer.”
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2

By extension, any vocal jeer or expression of scorn from a crowd.

“His big speech earned nothing but a Bronx cheer.”
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3

Figuratively, a flat rejection or put-down.

“The committee gave my proposal a Bronx cheer.”
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Bronx Cheer In A Sentence

She answered his pickup line with a Bronx cheer.
The bench cleared after the players traded Bronx cheers.
Every bad pun gets a Bronx cheer in this house.

Origin & Usage

1920s American slang, associated with rowdy crowds at New York ballparks, especially in the Bronx. The exact event that fixed the name is uncertain and the precise origin is disputed, though the term was firmly current by the 1920s.

Variants raspberry
Tags #1920s#flapper#jazz-age#vintage#insult

People Also Ask

What is a Bronx cheer?

A rude raspberry sound blown to mock or jeer at someone.

Why is it called a Bronx cheer?

It is linked to rowdy New York sports crowds, particularly in the Bronx. The exact origin is disputed, so the borough association is more legend than firm fact.

Is a Bronx cheer the same as a raspberry?

Yes, the two terms are interchangeable for the same derisive tongue-and-lips sound.

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