Etymology * Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * 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 * Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * 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
Well, the new restaurant seems nice, but their menu is a little blah.
He was struck by how much pleasure they seemed to take in their daytime lives, how blah their night work was by contrast, how altogether meaningless; […]2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections:
1 more example
[…] although the show deliberately showcases various luxury goods […], the overall ambience is extraordinarily bare of style and beauty, offering instead a world of blah décor, undistinguished fashions and cavernous homes that just look like overpriced McMansions.2025 May 6, Ross Douthat, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Miserable”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
I decided to go exercise rather than sit around all day feeling blah.
blah
intj
Etymology * Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * 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
1
An expression of mild frustration.
Blah! Why can't I get this computer to work!
2
Imitative of idle, meaningless talk; used sometimes in a slightly derogatory manner to mock or downplay another's words, or to show disinterest in a diatribe, rant, instructions, unsolicited advice, parenting, etc. Also used when recalling and retelling another's words, as a substitute for the portions of the speech deemed irrelevant.
When spoken repeatedly; often three times in succession: blah blah blah!; When spoken repeatedly; often three times in succession: blah blah blah
Yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, Mom, you said this all yesterday.
And then he was like, "Oh, my brother's an Internet millionaire, blah blah blah." Like I care!
3
Representing the sound of vomiting.
blah
verb
Etymology * Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * 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
1
To utter idle, meaningless talk.
Ooh, I feel so guilty, I've got far too much money — […] So give it away, endow a charitable foundation, burn it, but stop blahing on about it […]2014, Shelagh Stephenson, Ancient Lights, page 28:
Someone else said to me: “If you’re writing something again, don’t blah on about winning elections; it really offends them.”2015 August 29, Tony Blair, “Jeremy Corbyn’s politics are fantasy – just like Alice in Wonderland”, in The Guardian: