phrase Music Slang

Raise The Roof

/reɪz ðə ruːf/ · phrase · slang

To celebrate loudly — and the upward two-palm gesture that goes with it.

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Definitions

1

A specific hand gesture: pushing both open palms upward to hype a crowd.

“The DJ told everyone to raise the roof and the floor erupted.”
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2

To celebrate energetically and noisily, as if your enthusiasm could lift the roof off the building.

“When the team won, the whole bar raised the roof.”
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3

To make a lot of noise, party hard, or get rowdy.

“They raised the roof at the reception until 2 a.m.”
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Raise The Roof In A Sentence

That song came on and the crowd raised the roof.
Let's raise the roof, it's somebody's birthday!
He raised the roof when his name got called for the award.

Origin & Usage

Rooted in African American Vernacular English and hip-hop and gospel celebration culture, with both the phrase and the palms-up gesture spreading through 80s and 90s music. It conveys energy so big it could lift a roof.

Variants raisin the roofraise da roof
Tags #80s#american#aave#hip-hop#music

People Also Ask

What does 'raise the roof' mean?

It means to celebrate loudly and energetically, and it also names the palms-up upward hand gesture used to hype a crowd.

Where does 'raise the roof' come from?

It comes from AAVE, hip-hop, and gospel celebration culture, spreading through 80s and 90s music.

What is the 'raise the roof' gesture?

It's pushing both open palms toward the ceiling repeatedly to pump up energy at a party or event.

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