Hubba Hubba
Preserved but no longer current.
An exclamation of enthusiasm of American origin which came into wide prevalence during World War IJ. Like all such expressions its origin is obscure, though it has been ingeniously traced back to an old English expression: "Hubba — a cry given to warn fishermen of the approach of pilchards.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Hubba Hubba” mean?
An exclamation of enthusiasm of American origin which came into wide prevalence during World War IJ. Like all such expressions its origin is obscure, though it has been ingeniously traced back to an old English expression: "Hubba — a cry given to warn fishermen of the approach of pilchards.
Is “Hubba Hubba” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.