What is "Olley Olley Oxenfree?"?

Question

WHAT THE HECK IS IT!

Answer 1

A phrase used in children's games, generally in hide and seek, to indicate that anyone still hiding is safe to come out.

Answer 2

The origin of Olly Olly Oxen Free is very difficult to pin down, as children rhymes and songs were passed down orally until about the 1950s. Usually, I'd turn to http://www.wordorigins.org/ for the answer, but they don't have it over there, and the only good explanation I could find is here: http://janicesplaceincyberspace.homestea... , which basically says that it was created in the 1800s in Scotland, and the actual phrase is, "Calling all the outs in free!" And since children's games were passed down orally at the time, it got slurred as it made its way from Scotland, to England, to America, especially since you shouted it with your hands cupping your mouth. Try the phrase out and see what it sounds like to you! Now you know why we say it like we do. (Cool! That rhymes!)