Meaning
What does Giddy Up mean?
Giddy up refers to a popular exclamation, originally used for spurring a horse to go faster, however it was also popularized by the TV series Seinfeld, where the Kramer used it as his catchphrase.
Origin
What's the origin of Giddy Up?
Although the exact origin of the expression is not known, it is widely associated with the Wild West, with most depictions of the Americas at the 1800’s including it.
It most likely was a mincing of the phrase “Get ye up” or “Get thee up”, slowly morphing together and forming in its currently known version in the second half of the 19th century.
One of the earliest appearances of “Giddy up” in print comes from the novel of J. Panton Ham, published under the title “The Bridal Bar” in 1872.
Spread & Usage
How did Giddy Up spread?
“Giddy up” appeared in the countless Western movies, produced in the United States during the 20th century, including Tombstone, which popularized phrases from the era, such as I’m your huckleberry and You’re a Daisy if You Do.
It was also further popularized by Seinfeld, running between 1989 and 1998, where the character Kramer (portrayed by Michael Richards) is shown exclaiming “Giddy up” when he was excited.
“Giddy up” was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2003, with several other entries following suit in the subsequent years.