la-di-da
or la-de-da, lah-di-dah
[lah-dee-dah]Informal.
- (used as an expression of derision directed at affected gentility or pretentious refinement.)
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- affected; pretentious; foppish: a la-di-da manner.
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- an affected or pretentious person.
- behavior or speech characterized by affected or exaggerated gentility.
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Origin of la-di-da
First recorded in 1880–85; derisive imitation of affected, pseudo-elevated speech
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
cheekycockyconceitedfreshhaughtyimpertinentknow-it-allpompouspretentioussassyself-importantsmugsnippysnootystuck-upuppityla-de-dasnobbyExamples from the Web for la-de-da
Contemporary Examples
The la-de-da approach at each election cycle toward the personal health of the candidates continues to shock me.
Historical Examples
I will, too, if he preaches any more of his la-de-da society rules to me.
That Girl MontanaMarah Ellis Ryan
The point is that when I was going in, this la-de-da clerk of his, Cecil Gillis, was coming out.
Murder in the GunroomHenry Beam Piper
Then I would get a big ulster with 17 astrakhan fur, and take my cane and do the la-de-da down Piccadilly.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XIX (of 25)Robert Louis Stevenson
la-di-da
lah-di-dah or la-de-da
- informal affecting exaggeratedly genteel manners or speech
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- a la-di-da person
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Word Origin
C19: mockingly imitative of affected speech
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for la-de-da
la-di-da
mocking of affected gentility, 1874, in derisive imitation of "swell" way of talking.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper