come to papa

See also: come to Papa

English

WOTD – 15 June 2024

Alternative forms

come to Papa

Etymology

PIE word
*ph₂tḗr

From come + to + papa (“familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father”), originally an invitation by a father for his child to come to him; later called out by gamblers when throwing dice to “invite” winning numbers.^[1]

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/, /-pəˈpɑː/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Rhymes: -ɑːpə, -ɑː
Hyphenation: come to pa‧pa

Phrase

come to papa

(idiomatic, originally US) Used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur. [from 20th c.]
Synonyms: come to daddy, come to mamma
- 1962 August 30 and September 22 (dates recorded), Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper, “Relax”, in It Happened at the World’s Fair (soundtrack), performed by Elvis Presley, New York, N.Y.: RCA Victor, published 10 April 1963, →OCLC:
  Cut loose, let your hair down, honey / Unwind, turn the lights down low / Relax, let's uncork the stopper / Come to papa, come on, let's go

Translations

used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur

Finnish: tule tänne vaan (colloquial; used to encourage someone or something to approach)
Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
Swedish: komsi (komsi)

References

^ Eric Partridge (1977) “come to papa!”, in A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day, 1st Scarborough Books edition, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein and Day, published 1979, →ISBN, page 37, column 1.

[1] Eric Partridge (1977) “come to papa!”, in A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day, 1st Scarborough Books edition, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein and Day, published 1979, →ISBN, page 37, column 1.

[1]