Meaning & use
oh la la
Last updated
Meanings
interjectioninformalhumorous
Used to show playful surprise, admiration, or amusement, especially about something stylish, attractive, or slightly shocking.
Grammar: Stands alone as an exclamation; it does not take an object or combine with other words in a sentence.
Oh la la, that dress is stunning!
He walked in with a new haircut and everyone said, 'Oh la la!'
Oh la la, look at the price of that handbag!
interjectioninformalhumorous
Used to express mild shock or disapproval, often in a teasing way, about something slightly scandalous or improper.
Grammar: Also stands alone; the tone is often playful rather than serious.
Oh la la, that joke is a bit risqué!
She raised an eyebrow and said, 'Oh la la, what will the neighbors think?'
Common combinations
- say oh la la
- When she saw the surprise party, she said oh la la.
- oh la la!
- Oh la la! I didn't expect to see you here.
- a bit oh la la
- The outfit was a bit oh la la for a job interview.
- go oh la la
- The audience went oh la la when the magician appeared.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: oh la la or ooh la la?
oh la la vs ooh la la
This is just a variant spelling of the same expression, not a different word. Both are informal and mean the same thing.
Practice
Which situation would most naturally make someone say 'Oh la la'?
Choose one answer.
'Oh la la' is used for playful admiration, especially of something stylish or attractive, so seeing an elegant outfit fits. The other options are neutral or negative situations that would not normally prompt this light-hearted exclamation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “oh la la”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.