hiss



hiss at someone or something

 
1. [for a reptile] to make a hissing sound as a warning. The snake hissed at me. Otherwise I wouldn't have known it was there. The lizard hissed at the snake.
2. [for someone] to make a hissing sound at someone to show disapproval. The audience hissed at the performer, who was not all that bad. They hissed at all three acts.
See also: hiss

hiss someone off (of the stage)

Fig. [for the audience] to hiss and drive a performer off the stage. The boys in the front row tried to hiss her off the stage. The audience, angry with the quality of the singers, tried to hiss them all off.
See also: hiss, off

hiss something out

Fig. to say something with a hissing voice, usually in anger or disgust. The disgusted manager hissed his appraisal out. He hissed out his criticism.
See also: hiss, out

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Gaspare-Italian
Lygia-Portuguese (Brazilian)
Allochka-Russian
ZdzisŁAwazjee-SWAH-vahPolish
Alinafeah-lee-NAH-faySouthern African, Chewa
Enkhjargal-Mongolian