Blowing a raspberry

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"Bronx Cheer" redirects here. "Bronx Cheer" is also the title of a 1993 recording by rock band Mercury Rev.

Blowing a raspberry or strawberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise signifying derision (and/or silliness), made by sticking out the tongue between the lips and blowing to make a sound reminiscent of flatulence. In the terminology of phonetics, this sound does not appear to have an official name, but might be characterized as an unvoiced linguolabial trill [r̼̊]. It is never used in human language phonemically (i.e., to be used as a building block of words), but it is widely used across human cultures.

Nomenclature varies: in the US, Bronx cheer is sometimes used; otherwise, in the US and in other English-speaking countries, it is known as a raspberry, rasp or razz—the origin of which is an instance of Cockney rhyming slang, where the non-rhyming part of a rhyming phrase is used as a synonym. In this case, "raspberry tart" rhymes with "fart". It is first recorded in 1890.[1]

The term "Bronx Cheer" is used sarcastically because it is not a cheer, it is used to show disapproval. The term originated as a reference to The Bronx, New York, and the call used by spectators in Yankee Stadium.[citation needed]

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[edit] Usage

One of the most famous uses of the Bronx cheer is in the song "Der Fuehrer's Face" (from the Disney animated film of the same name), as recorded by musical comedian Spike Jones in 1942, which shows disdain for Adolf Hitler with the repeated refrain "We'll Heil! (Bronx cheer) Heil! (Bronx cheer) Right in Der Fuehrer's Face!"

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ raspberry. The Mavens' Word of the Day. Random House (1998-04-13). Retrieved on September 19, 2005.

[edit] External links