Tally ho Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈtæli hoʊ/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A tall, thin cry used to alert others to an aerial sighting, typically of a military aircraft, especially during a reconnaissance or combat mission.

Examples

The rifleman spotted the enemy plane and let out a loud “Tally ho!” to alert the rest of the squad.
In the movie, the character yelled “Tally ho!” as he noticed the enemy aircraft approaching.

Synonyms

Eyeball
Sight

Antonyms

Misidentify
Miss

Etymology

The phrase “Tally ho” originated in the mid-19th century as a hunting cry to alert others to a sighted game, and was later adopted by the military to indicate the spotting of enemy aircraft.

Usage Notes

The phrase is typically used in a military or aviation context, but can also be used in a more figurative sense to indicate excitement or surprise at spotting something.

Cultural References

The phrase has appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and books, often in a nostalgic or retrocontext.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Up, up and away!
Eyeball to eyeball

Related Words or Phrases

Spotter
Sighting
Reconnaissance

Collocations

Tally ho and away
Tally ho! We have company!

Frequency of Use

The phrase is relatively uncommon in modern language, but can still be found in military, aviation, or historical contexts.