Pshaw!

[1386] Voila!

🎲 Yippee! / Woohoo!
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A French interjection used in English to mean There it is! or Look at this!.
  • It's used when presenting something (a finished product, a result, a found item) with a flourish or sense of accomplishment.

Origin

  • From French voilà, literally meaning see there. (Vois imperative of voir to see + là there).
  • Adopted into English from the 18th century, often associated with magicians revealing a trick, chefs presenting a dish, or anyone showing off a completed task.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Ta-da! (Very similar, perhaps slightly more informal or childlike)
  • There you go! / There you are! (More mundane presentation)
  • Presto! (Often used similarly to voila, especially for magic/quick transformations)
  • Look! / Check it out! (Informal call to attention)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Ta-da!
  • Check it out!
  • Boom! (Signifying sudden completion/success)
  • And there it is.

Vulgar/Emphatic: (Less common for presentation, more for sudden success)

  • Fuck yeah! (Expressing triumph at completion)

Milder/Common:

  • Here it is!
  • There you go.
  • All done! / Finished!

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal.
  • Common in presentations (cooking shows, magic shows, product demos) and everyday situations when showing off a result.
  • Can sound slightly theatrical or pretentious if overused or used for mundane things without a sense of irony.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Generally well-understood. The main potential issue is mispronunciation or sounding affected if the context doesn't warrant the flourish. Some might spell it incorrectly as walla or viola.

Examples

  • (Magician pulls a rabbit from a hat) Voila!
  • (Chef plates a meal beautifully) Dinner is served. Voila!
  • (After fixing a broken toy) I put the wheel back on, and... voila! Good as new.
  • (Finding lost keys) Ah, here they are! Voila!

Dialogue

Person A: I've been working on this painting all week.

Person B: Can I see it?

Person A: (Unveils the painting) Voila! What do you think?

Person B: Wow, that's incredible!

Social Media Examples

  • DIY Blogger Post: Spent the weekend building this bookshelf... and voila! So happy with how it turned out. #DIY #woodworking #homeproject
  • Food Instagram: Perfectly poached eggs every time. Voila! #breakfast #cookinghacks #foodgram
  • Tweet: Finally debugged that nightmarish code. Voila! It runs! 🎉 #coding #developerlife #relief

Response Patterns

  • Impressed reaction: Wow!, Amazing!, Looks great!
  • Simple acknowledgement: Oh, nice!, Thanks!
  • Applause (if appropriate, like after a performance or magic trick).

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • After hearing it: Examining the presented item, expressing appreciation (That looks delicious!), asking how it was done (How did you do that?).
  • The person saying it might wait for a reaction or explain further (Voila! It took me all afternoon to bake.)

Conversation Starter

  • No. It signals the presentation or completion of something.

Intonation

  • Said with enthusiasm and a flourish. Stress is on the second syllable -la. vwa-LA!
  • Often has a bright, rising or falling-rising intonation, indicating presentation or accomplishment.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood across generations. Its slightly theatrical nature might appeal differently, but it's generally recognizable.

Regional Variations

  • Used internationally in English. Pronunciation might vary slightly, but the French origin is usually acknowledged.
Pshaw!
🎲 Yippee! / Woohoo!