Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb & adjective In a state of boastful elation or exultation.
  • adverb & adjective To one side; askew.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Exultant; jubilant; triumphant; on the high horse.
  • Tipsy; slightly intoxicated.
  • noun A bumper.
  • In an exultant or jubilant manner; recklessly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Exultant, very happy, triumphant.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective exhibiting self-importance

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From the phrase to set cock on hoop, to drink festively.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Origin uncertain.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "1. Exultant; jubilant; triumphant; on the high horse.

    2. Tipsy; slightly intoxicated.

    –noun

    3. A bumper.

    4. In an exultant or jubilant manner; recklessly."

    - Century Dictionary

    August 16, 2010

  • Whenever I see this, I'm reminded of caoutchouc.

    January 9, 2013

  • Though ratatouille is really duck soup

    This one has diners knocked for a loop.

    The ingenious seasoning

    Exceeds all reasoning.

    The restaurant reviews are cock-a-hoop.

    August 29, 2014