hully gully: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Historical, Dialectal
Quick answer
What does “hully gully” mean?
A popular line dance from the early 1960s, characterized by a series of simple, repetitive steps and performed in a group.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A popular line dance from the early 1960s, characterized by a series of simple, repetitive steps and performed in a group.
Also refers to the style of mid-tempo rhythm and blues/soul music that accompanied the dance, or can refer more generally to secretive, underhanded dealings or gossip.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The dance/music sense is recognized in both but is primarily an American cultural artifact. The 'secret dealings' sense is occasionally found in British regional dialects.
Connotations
US: Nostalgia for 1960s dance culture. UK: More likely to be heard as nonsense rhyming slang or an obscure term for commotion.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern UK English. Rare and historical in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “hully gully” in a Sentence
[Subject] does/performs/plays the hully gully.There was some [abstract noun: hanky-panky/hully gully] going on.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or cultural studies of 20th-century music/dance.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by older generations referencing the 1960s.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hully gully”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hully gully”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hully gully”
- Confusing it with 'hullabaloo' (uproar).
- Using it as a verb ('They hully gullied') is non-standard.
- Spelling as 'hully-gully' (with hyphen) is common but the solid form is standard in most dictionaries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a historical dance from the early 1960s, though it may be revived at retro or theme events.
Yes, but this usage is archaic, dialectal, and much less common than the dance meaning. It is often confused with words like 'hullabaloo'.
It is a style of mid-tempo rhythm and blues or soul music with a strong, shuffling beat, popularised by bands like The Olympics.
Yes, they are completely different dances. The 'hokey pokey' is a participatory circle dance for children, while the 'hully gully' is a lined-based dance for adults.
A popular line dance from the early 1960s, characterized by a series of simple, repetitive steps and performed in a group.
Hully gully is usually informal, historical, dialectal in register.
Hully gully: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌl.i ˈɡʌl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhʌl.i ˈɡʌl.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not all hully gully. (Meaning: It's not just fun and games; there's a serious side.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'HULL' of a ship and 'GULL' the bird. Picture sailors and seagulls doing a silly, shuffling dance on the deck in the 1960s.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL ACTIVITY IS A PHYSICAL PATTERN; SECRECY IS SHUFFLING MOTION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'hully gully'?