Attaboy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈætəˌbɔɪ/

Alternative forms

• atta boy

Origin

The OED gives 'attaboy' as a "careless pronunciation" of "that's the boy!", though the more common expression is "that's a good boy!", which derives from the expressions "That's my good boy" which first appears in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus.

It has otherwise been suggested that attaboy goes back to the hunters’ language, in which boy acquired the meaning “hunted animal.” attaboy (or ataboy, as it is sometimes spelled, because no one knows the “right” spelling of this phrase) would go back to "a tout a boy!" ("a tout", a call to incite dogs).

(Attaboy! Or, The Male-Intimate Affectionate Overtones Questions By Anatoly Liberman, December 13th, 2006)

Full definition of attaboy

Interjection

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy or man.Attaboy! That's the way to hit a home run!

Noun

1. A cry of "attaboy"; an accolade.
• 2007, June 30, David M. Halbfinger, How a Fan of Comic Books Transformed Himself Into a Hollywood Player, LOS ANGELES, June 29 — Drink in hand, attaboys coming at him from every direction, Tom DeSanto was living the fanboy dream.