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“Rootin tootin” is an American expression that means to cause an uproar or excitement, originating in the Old West in the 19th century. It was popularized by early 20th-century Western films and singing cowboy westerns. It is still used in American English today, often for cowboy-themed events or ironically.
“Rootin tootin” is a whimsical American expression meaning to cause an uproar or, more generally, to excite. It originated in 19th century America, apparently in the Old West; its archaic nature is part of its charm. While it has its roots in more common phrases, its use is generally limited to references to cowboy culture. Like “pardner” and “buckaroo,” its most common modern use is by someone trying to mimic a cowboy slang, either for humor or to create a theme.
The phrase “rootin tootin” is first recorded on paper in 1875, but may have been used as a colloquialism for years prior. It appears to derive from the phrase “root,” meaning to cheer up, which originated around the same time. The “toot” part of the sentence may refer to a similar saying, “to blow one’s horn.” Both terms refer to a loud, boisterous noise; then “rootin tootin”. Alternatively, “tootin” may have been added just to make a funny rhyme, a process language experts call reduplication.
Like many examples of frontier slang, “rootin tootin” was popularized by early 20th-century Western films. Its amusing, archaic sound made even its description of boisterous horseplay seem innocuous. This made it ideal for singing cowboy westerns, a popular 1920s subgenre that used standard western textures to present musical numbers. Famous singing cowboys included the Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, who starred in Rootin’ Tootin’ Rhythm in the 1930s.
The singing cowboys of the 1930s and 1940s paved the way for the family-friendly TV cowboys of the 1950s. These clean, well-dressed heroes would have been nearly unrecognizable to frontier settlers of the previous century. A 2011 search of the Internet Movie Database revealed nearly a dozen uses of “rootin tootin” in dialogue, all from mid-20th century TV and movies. It is likely that the phrase was used more in those decades than it ever was by the real cowboys and settlers of the Old West.
In the 21st century, “rootin tootin” is still in use in American English, with the same limited applications. It has become virtual shorthand for using a cowboy theme for a party, sale, or event. It can also be used ironically, when an activity fails to build enough excitement. The enduring popularity of country music and cowboy culture suggests that the phrase will continue to resurface in the future to describe rowdy yet somewhat safe activities at the same time.
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