What's the Origin of 'Blah Blah Blah'? | | Whether you're indicating that something is boring or need a phrase that acts as a fill-in-the-blank, "blah" repeated three times gets the job done. But how did this filler word become an accepted phrase on its own? | |  | Julia Rittenberg |
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| |  | | W e've all been guilty of excessive talking at some point. If you're telling a long-winded story or giving confusing directions, the dreaded response from someone is "blah blah blah." "Blah" functions as a nothing word, a fill-in to a sentence, but repeating it three times can leave an impact. This rejoinder boils down to "you're talking too much" or "this is not interesting."
"Blah" as a noun is defined as "silly or pretentious nonsense." As an adjective, it means "dull and unattractive." It's a 20th-century word; one of the earliest written accounts in the Oxford English Dictionary is in a 1918 diary. Though the origin is a little fuzzy, it could have come from the French word blasé, which has been carried over into English, meaning "apathetic to pleasure or life especially as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment." If you're feeling blah or blasé about something in your life, it may be because it's boring or repetitive. Also a noun, "the blahs" is a colloquial phrase for mild depression — as in, "He fights off the blahs every winter when it's cold and dreary." |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Compass | | | Meaning: Depicts a classic magnetic compass, used to represent navigation and direction.
Evolution: While a real compass helps you find true north, the Compass emoji 🧭 is often used in reference to exploration, personal growth, and adventure.
Usage: [Text to a friend:] I got the job! 🥳 On to the next adventure! 🧭 |
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| | Compass | | | Meaning: Depicts a classic magnetic compass, used to represent navigation and direction.
Evolution: While a real compass helps you find true north, the Compass emoji 🧭 is often used in reference to exploration, personal growth, and adventure.
Usage: [Text to a friend:] I got the job! 🥳 On to the next adventure! 🧭 |
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Have you read? | |  | | Akata Witch | | | | This very fun book introduces "The Nsibidi Scripts" series. Check them all out — the series is on "Time" magazine's list of the 100 Best Fantasy and Young Adult Books of All Time. A young girl discovers she's capable of magic with the help of her friends, and together they embark on a quest to learn about their powers (and save the world). As deep and rich as the magic and world-building is in this book, the food of Nigeria is just as much a character. I actually bought a Nigerian cookbook just so I could read more about pepper soup. | | | | Shea Newton, Director of Engineering | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Akata Witch | | | | This very fun book introduces "The Nsibidi Scripts" series. Check them all out — the series is on "Time" magazine's list of the 100 Best Fantasy and Young Adult Books of All Time. A young girl discovers she's capable of magic with the help of her friends, and together they embark on a quest to learn about their powers (and save the world). As deep and rich as the magic and world-building is in this book, the food of Nigeria is just as much a character. I actually bought a Nigerian cookbook just so I could read more about pepper soup. | | | | Shea Newton, Director of Engineering | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | The Best Shakespearean Insults | | Whether comparing someone unfavorably to a cheese or making an early "yo mama" joke, Shakespeare never shied away from getting creative with his jabs and insults. |
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