lulu en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈluːlu/
Etymology
Probably from American stage magician Lulu Hurst (1869–1950).
Meanings
-
(slang) A remarkable person, object, or idea.
The funny part was, though, we were the worst skaters on the whole goddam^([sic]) rink. I mean the worst. And there were some lulus, too.
1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 167:The job: a real lulu. The heiress to a cheese fortune has run off with a clarinet player in a swing band, and Hicks is dispatched to bring her home.
2025 October 9, Parul Sehgal, “Thomas Pynchon Saw Where America Was Headed. What Does He See Now?”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:Look out for that first step. It's a lulu.
1943, Looney Tunes, Jack-wabbit and the Beanstalk, spoken by The Giant:Mon-sewer, you are a lulu!
1961, James Edward Grant, Clair Huffaker, The Comancheros, spoken by Jake Cutter (John Wayne):Seriously, I mean it: From Russia, With Love is a real wowser, a lulu, a dilly and a smasheroo.
2013, Andrew Lycett, Ian Fleming, page 301:
- (slang) A very attractive or alluring person.
- (slang) A very bad mistake or error.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lulus | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
monstrosity · monster · fright · dog · sight
Synonyms
cutie · mess-up · break · boo-boo · howler · aberration · faux pas · ace · slipup · exception · bloomer · blooper · screwup · solecism · fluff · flub · babe · floater · goof · fault · erroneity · beauty · champion · mistake · slip · oopsy · disadventure · thinko · cock-up · surprise · wrength · error · boner · misadventure · slip-up · humdinger · stunner · misstep · doozie · lapse · lapsus · clanger · gaffe · comedy · inaccuracy · innovation · fuckup · blunder · stumble · doll