alley oop

Etymology

Borrowed from French allez-houp, cry of circus acrobat about to leap, from allez (“go: second person plural imperative”) (from Old French aler (“walk”)) + houp, of unknown origin (possibly onomatopoeia).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -uːp

Noun

alley oop (plural alley oops)

1. (basketball) A play in which one player passes the ball to another, who catches it while airborne and dunks or lays it up before landing.

   Shaq lobs the ball to Kobe Bryant as Kobe finishes for the alley oop.

Interjection

alley oop

1. Used to signal the start of a strenuous activity, such as lifting.

See also

• lob jam