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What does whoopty-skippy-do mean?

Because if that's your plan then whoopty-skippy-do, sign me up!" Tito appeared, leaning over the hood. “My ears are burning. I hope you're not talking about me,"...

Source: Turbo Junior Novelization, Simon & Schuster

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    It's a pragmatic marker subclass extreme enthusiasm marker subclass child's register. Compare Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. As Joffysloffy says, though, words are often used ironically, even sarcastically.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Dec 20, 2014 at 11:08
  • This one is a latter-day variant on "Whoopie-doo", for which the earliest written instance I can find is that one from 1969. All such alternatives to "Hooray! [for you]" are usually used sarcastically.
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 20, 2014 at 12:36
  • Kinda like "whoopty-do" only different. It's common to insert various nonsense terms between "whoopty" and "do", as emphasis. Usually doing so implies that the "enthusiasm" is sarcastic (though this is often the case with "whoopty-do" itself, even without the addition).
    – Hot Licks
    Dec 20, 2014 at 15:53

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As far as I have seen, it is used as a sarcastic cheer. It is used as ‘excellent!’, ‘brilliant!’, ‘genius!’ sarcastically.

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  • Why the downvote?
    – Joffysloffy
    Dec 20, 2014 at 11:08
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    It is something that's said (US) after learning one has received a three cent a week raise: "Well, whoopty-skippy-do!"
    – Wayfaring Stranger
    Dec 20, 2014 at 12:48
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    +1 - though it should be noted that it is a sort of over-the-top sarcasm. The connotation is more of "that is completely obvious" or "you are an idiot" in addition to sarcastically mentioning how bad the idea/plan/thing is.
    – Telastyn
    Dec 20, 2014 at 20:28
  • It's not used to mean "excellent" or the like it's used to mean "big freakin' deal" in a really sarcastic way. In other words "Who cares? That's not worth even mentioning. Why are you even wasting my time telling me about it?"
    – Jim
    Dec 21, 2014 at 0:50
  • @Jim I think that fits less well in the asker's quote.
    – Joffysloffy
    Dec 21, 2014 at 6:52
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This looks like a one-off extension of whoop, meaning 'hooray' or something similar, and usually used ironically. The OED thinks whoop-de-do [the only form I have ever encountered] means "a fuss, bustle or commotion: a 'to-do' (U.S. colloq.)", but its first citation, The Red Badge of Courage, is " ‘Whoop-a-dadee,’ said a man, ‘here we are! Everybody fightin' ", which fits better with your example than their own definition.

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It's a sarcastic expression of enthusiasm (ie. indicating no enthusiasm whatsoever).

"Whoopty-do" by itself is occasionally used as a genuine expression of enthusiasm, but is usually used sarcastically. "Whooptyd-<intensifier>-do" (typically "whoopty-fucking-do") is invariably sarcastic.

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It should ordinarily mean "Big Fat Hairy Deal". (Note tmesis for emphasis and satirical irony).

Other similar expressions:

A) Tell the Salvos (A reference to the Salvation Army, who "care", as I don't).

B) Yeah, I read about it in "Big Whoop" magazine. – Panucci.

However, because of the "sign me up", it is an exuberant, boisterous expression of celebration as one might expect from a slack-jawed yokel.

Because of this, the full context is important, it may yet be a "not want" parodied expression.

Such as "Oooh, please, can we?" delivered together with a rolled up magazine to the face. Often used on sitcoms.

In the case of the referenced work, the "set up" is in the description of the option, (downplaying the upside as a downside) and the delivery of a "want very badly" acceptance, as the "run down mall" etc. is actually an attractive proposition.

Also common filler material for sitcoms.

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