The phrase tally-ho is a largely British phrase, used in foxhunting, shouted when a rider sees the fox.[1]
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Tally-ho dates from around 1772, and is probably derived from the French taïaut, a cry used to excite hounds when hunting deer. This, in turn, probably was derived from taille haut![1] meaning raise swords cried by French commanders upon mediaeval battlefields upon the final assault.[2]
Tally-ho is also used in the Northern Indian countryside for provoking and alerting dogs. This is pronounced in India as leo-ho. Most probably the British Colonists introduced this word to Indian people. Later on it became interchangeable with choo, with the same meaning as leo-ho.
This expression became commonly used during the Second World War by English-speaking fighter pilots to say that an enemy aircraft has been sighted. It is still used today for this purpose, and also applies to sighting ground targets, though it is generally shortened to "Tally."
Tally-ho is the squadron motto of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, a famous British World War II fighter squadron. 609 (WR) Sqn RAuxAF still exists today, having been reformed in 1998 at Royal Air Force Station Leeming in North Yorkshire, England, UK.[3]
The phrase is also the motto of the US Air Forces 604th ASOS (Air Support Operations Squadron) Headquartered in Uijong-bu South Korea.
This phrase has since been used by civilian pilots in response to traffic advisories provided by air traffic controllers (ATC). The pilot's response "Tally" or "Tally-ho" tells air traffic controllers that the pilot has seen the air traffic in question. For example:
While in common use, this phrase is not in the official FAA Pilot-Controller Glossary. This use is contrary to the use by military pilots, who would not call "tally" on an aircraft they did not intend to kill. The proper response to a traffic call issued by ATC is "traffic in sight."
A four-in-hand coach, named the Tally-ho, was a coach that once plied between London and Birmingham.[2]
Also, the brand name of a large sightseeing carriage used by the Crescent Stables and Livery in Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Tally-Ho is brand of self-rolled cigarette papers available in Australia. They are by far the most common brand and as such the phrase "Tally-ho" is synonymous with the papers and used interchangeably, for example, "mate pass me a Tally-Ho?" I need to roll up."
Tally-Ho is also a brand of poker-sized playing cards manufactured by the US Playing Card Company.
Tally-Ho Uniforms is also the name of an airline pilot uniform company in Miami, FL that has been operating since 1948.
Tally-ho is also a term NASA astronauts use in audio transmissions to signify sightings of other spacecraft, space stations, and unidentified objects.[4].
Tally-ho is also a square dance call in Modern Western square dance at the C1 (Challenge 1) level.
Pub rock is usually traced back to the Tally Ho, a former jazz pub in Kentish Town, London where Eggs over Easy started playing in May 1971, and were soon joined by Bees Make Honey, Brinsley Schwarz, Max Merritt and the Meteors, Ducks Deluxe and others.[5]
The American film director Sam Raimi had heroes yell "Tally-ho!" before jumping in two films: Army of Darkness and Spider-Man. In Matilda, Miss Trunchbull yells the phrase while jumping down from the second floor. "Tally-ho" is the code word in The Great Escape.
In episode 36 of Scrubs (TV series), J.D. shouts Tally-ho! as he skids across the bonnet of giftshop woman's car.
On the classic TV show The Prisoner the people in The Village read a newspaper called Tally Ho, suggesting that this is not a peaceful retirement community but instead more of a fox hunt. The phrase was extensively used by Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Blackadder Goes Forth British television series in the 80s.
In the sixteenth series episode of The Simpsons, Midnight Rx, Montgomery Burns yells tally-ho as he's about to jump out of an airplane.
In the 4th series episode of Star Trek:Voyager - "The Killing Game part II" - The Doctor responds to Klingons in a simulation with the "Tally ho" phrase after a Klingon and Neelix shout Qapla'.
In the television series "Silverhawks" and the beginning of the show you can hear Tally-how before the hawk takes fly, suggesting the hunting of the enemies.
it is also used in Wallace and gromit, The wrong trousers in the train chase, where wallace shouts: "TALLY - HO" as they try to get feathers mcGraw.
In episode one, season five of The Larry Sanders Show - "Everybody Loves Larry" - Hank Kingsley yells "Tally ho, fuckface!" during a telephone conversation with a car mechanic.
Located in the heart of central Leesburg, Virginia in the USA, the Tally Ho Theatre is a historic twin theatre operating under the management of Market Street Productions. While the venue showcases first-run feature films, it also plays host to film themed nights, live comedy, magic and musical acts, as well as private events.
In D.J. MacHale's book series The Pendragon Adventure, the aquatic character Vo Spader shouts "Hobey-ho!" many times to the point where it is his motto. It is probably derived from "tally-ho," as it sees similar usage as a sort of rallying cry.
In the Final Fantasy series, Lali-ho or Rally-ho, an altered form of the phrase, is used by Dwarves as their password.
In America, the term is used to refer to Tallahassee, FL by locals.
The West Midlands Police Learning and development Centre, Tally Ho!, Edgbaston, Birmingham
HMS Tally-Ho was a British World War II submarine.[7]
It is also the name of a pub in Worcestershire, England.
It is also the name of a pub in North Finchley, London, and often North Finchley is referred colloquially as Tally Ho or in the case of local bus transport as Tally Ho Corner
It is also the name of a fast food restaurant near McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario Canada
There is also a residential street named Tally-Ho Road in Arroyo Grande, California.