Definition

Noun: 1. A style of blues music, especially for piano: Boogie-woogie is a rhythmic, percussive style of playing the blues, characterized by a repetitive bass figure (often a walking bassline) played with the left hand while the right hand plays melodic and rhythmic improvisations. 2. A dance performed to this music: The term can also refer to a lively, improvised dance that evolved alongside and to the sound of boogie-woogie music.

Examples

• The pianist played a fantastic boogie-woogie that got everyone's feet tapping.
• The club was famous for its boogie-woogie nights in the 1940s.
• She learned to dance the boogie-woogie from her grandparents.

Advanced Usage

• "to boogie-woogie" (verb, informal): To dance energetically to this style of music or, more broadly, to dance with enthusiasm.
  • They spent the whole night boogie-woogieing on the dance floor.

Variants and Related Words

• Boogie (noun/verb): A shortened, more general informal term. As a noun, it can refer to a party or a session of dancing to lively music. As a verb, it means to dance energetically.
  • Let's go to the boogie tonight!
  • We boogied until dawn.

Synonyms

• Piano blues: Specifically highlights the instrumental and stylistic connection.
• Barrelhouse piano: Refers to an earlier, similar style of loud, rhythmic piano playing often associated with bars and parties.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Play some boogie": A request for someone to play lively, rhythmic music, typically on the piano.
  • Hey, piano player, play some boogie!

Noun

1. an instrumental version of the blues (especially for piano)