English Reference
interjection · noun · adjective

blah

interj. · n. · adj.
US /ˈbɫɑ/ UK /blˈɑː/ blah

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    interj.you say this to show that someone is talking too much about things that are not important or interesting.

    interj.used to represent or dismiss idle, meaningless, or repetitive speech.

    Simple

    He started talking about his diet and his gym routine and blah blah blah.

    In context

    The manager spent twenty minutes discussing synergy and core values and blah blah blah, without actually addressing the budget cuts.

    etceterayada yada
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.talk that has no meaning or is just boring nonsense.

    n.meaningless or tedious talk; drivel.

    Simple

    Don't listen to him; it is just a lot of blah.

    In context

    The political speech was mostly just corporate blah designed to avoid answering the journalist's direct questions.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.a feeling of being bored, tired, or slightly unhappy for no clear reason.

    n.a state of mild depression, boredom, or lethargy; typically used in the plural as 'the blahs'.

    Simple

    The rainy weather always gives me a case of the blahs.

    In context

    After the excitement of the holidays, many employees suffer from a mid-January case of the blahs.

    Usage

    Almost always used with 'the' and in the plural form.

    malaiseboredomlethargy
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.not exciting or interesting; having no special quality.

    adj.lacking character, spirit, or visual interest; insipid or dull.

    Simple

    The soup was a bit blah, so I added some salt and pepper.

    In context

    The office walls were painted a very blah shade of beige that made the workspace feel quite depressing.

    blanddulluninspiring

* Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”) * Adjective sense “bland, dull” (1919), perhaps influenced by French blasé (“bored, indifferent”). * The blahs (“boredom, mild depression”) first attested 1969; probably a blend of the blues + blah (adjective). * Also may be connected with bleat

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated