Word
blah
US/ˈbɫɑ/
UK/blˈɑː/
Definitions
01meaningless talk
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.
“He started talking about his diet and his gym routine and blah blah blah.”
“The manager spent twenty minutes discussing synergy and core values and blah blah blah, without actually addressing the budget cuts.”
Synonyms
02nonsense
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. talk that has no meaning or is just boring nonsense.
n. meaningless or tedious talk; drivel.
“Don't listen to him; it is just a lot of blah.”
“The political speech was mostly just corporate blah designed to avoid answering the journalist's direct questions.”
03the blahs
C1 · Advanced Plural noun 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'.
“The rainy weather always gives me a case of the blahs.”
“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.
Antonyms
04boring or dull
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. not exciting or interesting; having no special quality.
adj. lacking character, spirit, or visual interest; insipid or dull.
“The soup was a bit blah, so I added some salt and pepper.”
“The office walls were painted a very blah shade of beige that made the workspace feel quite depressing.”
Etymology
* 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.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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