Energy, enthusiasm, or sex appeal; an attractive quality that gives vitality or excitement. Personal magnetism or spirited vigor.
American slang from the 1930s, originally meaning sex appeal or attractiveness. Possibly onomatopoeic, imitating a sound of exertion or impact. The word gained popularity through Hollywood and jazz culture, often used to describe performers with special charisma or energy.
This wonderfully bouncy word was popularized by 1940s Hollywood, where starlets were often described as having 'oomph' - that indefinable quality that made them magnetic on screen. It's a perfect example of onomatopoeia becoming metaphor, as the sound 'oomph' (like a punch or exertion) came to represent the impact a charismatic person has on others.
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