# Bronx cheer

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bronx-cheer
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of raspberry (“a sound intended to resemble flatulence made by blowing air out of the mouth while the tongue is protruding from and pressed against the lips, used humorously or to express disdain or scorn”).

## Examples

- The crowd gave the referee a Bronx cheer after the bad call.
- When the politician made his empty promise, someone in the back row let out a loud Bronx cheer.
- My brother gave me a loud Bronx cheer when I tried to sing a difficult high note during our family dinner.
- The audience expressed their collective disdain for the lackluster performance by greeting the lead actor with a resounding Bronx cheer as he exited the stage.

## Origin

The term is believed to originate from the practice of making a flatulent sound during sporting events and other public gatherings in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York. While the precise moment of its coinage is not recorded, the name serves as a geographic attribution for a particular brand of vocalised derision. The cheer is neither cheering nor especially welcoming, being a local contribution from New York to the lexicon of disapproval. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.