Meaning of Oompa Loompa | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Any of the fictional pygmies who manufacture candy in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2. A person appearing orange from fake tanning, resembling the appearance of Oompa Loompas in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
3. A dwarf, little person, short person.

Examples

“Dr. Evil: Is he giving off too much of a creepy Umpa Lumpa vibe? / What’s wrong, Mini-Me?”

“Nobody, not even an Umpa Lumpa, had warned me what would happen to a blind guy who refuses to close his eyes.”

“It could be worse, but I've learned to become invisible to Machiavellian dilettantes, faux radical Satanistas, and bloodsucking Oompa-Loompas of the painfully ordinary variety.”

“[Referring to the male member] It's not one of the Muppets or an Umpa Lumpa.”

“Don’t be afraid to write your name in the books and on the pans that were yours before you found yourself sharing a studio apartment that would normally not be big enough for an Oompa-Loompa.”

“Nevertheless, some subtle market forces are at work which pressure the canny shopkeeper into giving up valuable shelf space to the contents of an Oompa Loompa’s cocktail cabinet.”

“For women with skin of color, it's so, so important to get the shade and tone right. If it's wrong, you can look incredibly ashy, or like an Oompa Loompa.”

“The men[…]have gone way overboard with the spray-on tan. They’re as orange as Oompa Loompas, and they stare at my boobs for a very long time before acknowledging me.”

“I don't know who decided all porn actors must be the same shade of orange as Oompa Loompas.”

“Dahl insisted there was no racist intent behind the Oompa Loompas but also said he found himself sympathising with the NAACP.”

“Not only does he have an Oompa Loompa for a mother, but if Star magazine is to be believed, that Oompa Loompa will soon be raising him on her own. […] This is great for MTV as its line-up of reality TV shows about young, foolish women with bad tans raising babies solo was looking kinds slim lately.”

“‘Oi! Oompa Loompa!’ some bloke yelled at me. Whatevs! Like I hadn’t heard that one before! My orange tan, huge hair extensions and bright clothes, made me a target.”

CEFR level