Etymology From a song in the Disney movie Song of the South, from “O Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day”, chorus to an old minstrel song “Zip Coon” popularized by George Washington Dixon
1
An exclamation of happiness.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, / My oh my, what a wonderful day / Plenty of sunshine headin' my way / Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay1946, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, Ray Gilbert (lyrics), Allie Wrubel (music):
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! What a treat this movie was for kids and adults alike.1990 March, Susan Sackett, The Hollywood Reporter Book of Box Office Hits, New York: Billboard Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 60:
2 more examples
If the newspapers and broadcasts are blaring “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-a/My, oh my, what a wonderful day” over and over, there’s a tendency to go down the road humming that tune, too, because you can’t get it out of your head. Are business conditions good? Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!2000, Jim Hightower, If the Gods Had Meant Us to Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates, New York: HarperCollins, →ISBN, →OL:
"Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," Kate said. "This is better." She held her half-empty glass up.2004 March 17, Donley Watt, Dancing With Lyndon, Fort Worth: TCU Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 135:
zip-a-dee-doo-dah
adj
Etymology From a song in the Disney movie Song of the South, from “O Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day”, chorus to an old minstrel song “Zip Coon” popularized by George Washington Dixon
1
Characteristic of such a feeling.
It happened on one o' dem zip-a-dee-doo-dah days. Now that's the kind of day when you can't open your mouth without a song jump right out of it.1946, Song of the South (Film), spoken by Uncle Remus (James Baskett):
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah! Only one place in the world can give you that Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah feeling day after wonderful day.1987, “(advertisement)”, in National Geographic, volume 172, page 280:
1 more example
Repeat after me: If you're having a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day, I don't want any part of it.2006 November 1, B. Elwin Sherman, Caught in the Shower Without a Pencil -- Baby Boomer Humor, And Other Maturity Problems, Lulu, →ISBN, →OL, page 36: