oomph en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /umf/
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ʊmf/
Etymology
Onomatopoeic.
Meanings
-
(informal, uncountable) Strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout.
"Yes, well they're finding it difficult, sir. They are afflicted with a certain lassitude. They're just finding it hard to get behind the job. They lack oomph."
1982 August, Douglas Adams, chapter 30, in Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; 3), London: Pan Books, →ISBN:Adding layers of texture to a cookie by folding in ground-down bits of goodness is one of our favorite ways to pack a big punch, but you need to choose your fighter wisely. If you pick something too smooth, your cookie won't gain any oomph, and if you choose something too flavorful, your cookie may end up overwhelming (sorry, Flamin' Hot Cheetos).
2022, Christina Tosi, All About Cookies: A Milk Bar Baking Book, New York, NY: Clarkson Potter, →ISBN, page 53:Use a mild cleanser, but pick something with enough oomph to do the job.
-
(informal, uncountable) Sex appeal.
'Come to think of it, the girl looked a bit like Ann,' Jerry reflected. 'Foxy, know what I mean? Garbo eyes, lots of oomph.'
1974, John le Carré, chapter 28, in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy:
- (countable) A bassy grunting or thudding sound.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| oomphs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
welly (force or power)
Translations (31)
pl ikra (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · nl vitaliteit (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Bums (a bassy grunting or thudding sound) · de Pep (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · pl chrząknięcie (a bassy grunting or thudding sound) · pl energia (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · cmn 力气 (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Stampfen (a bassy grunting or thudding sound) · es garra (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · cmn 精力 (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · ru напряжение (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · af oemf (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · ru сила (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · nl aantrekkingskracht (sex appeal) · nl animo (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · nl sex-appeal (sex appeal) · de Ausstrahlung (sex appeal) · fi puhti (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Schneid (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · cmn 气质 (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Schmackes (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · es punche (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · ru усилие (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Feuer (sex appeal) · es mosh (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · de Schwung (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · nl geestdrift (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · pl burknięcie (a bassy grunting or thudding sound) · es marcha (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout) · pl seksapil (sex appeal) · pl siła (strength, power, passion or effectiveness; clout)