say aah

present singular third person says aah · participle present saying aah · participle past said aah · past said aah

1. imperativeTo open one's mouth wide and utter a prolonged /ɑ/ (usually to allow a medical examination).

   Take a mirror, open your mouth and say aah.

   1981, Mademoiselle: The Magazine for the Smart Young Woman

   3 more examples

   The doctor says, “Say aah.” Why aah? Why not ooh or eee? Because if you say ooh your lips are pursed, and if you say eee your teeth are clenched. Neither of which is good if you want to look into somebody's open mouth.

   2002, Robin Maconie, The Second Sense: Language, Music, and Hearing, Scarecrow Press, →ISBN

   Now say aah.” I say aah. Then I shut my eyes tight. Even so, I can't stop picturing Dr. Hayek's long thin metal tongs and the way they gleam under the infirmary lights.

   2008, Monique Polak, What World is Left, Orca Book Publishers, →ISBN, page 179

   "Say aah," Mrs. Albert said, peering into her mouth.

   1992, Lynn Beach, Stranger in the mirror, Aladdin, →ISBN