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View synonyms for yakety-yak

yakety-yak

or yack·e·ty-yak, yack·e·ty-yack

[ yak-i-tee-yak ]

verb (used without object)

, yak·e·ty-yakked, yak·e·ty-yak·king,
  1. Slang. yak 2.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of yakety-yak1

First recorded in 1945–50; apparently imitative
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Example Sentences

Then off they went holding hands like a pair of teenagers, yakety-yak, talking to each other in something Congolese.

And, while school authorities are at it, the civics lessons can note why the First Amendment about the right to yakety-yak precedes the Fifth about the right to shut up and walk away.

The election yakety-yak will eventually turn to issues.

I’m telling you, we can yakety-yak until next Tuesday here.

Now it’s your chance to yakety-yak: Is the form a valid theatrical endeavor?

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More About Yakety Yak

What does yakety-yak mean?

Yakety-yak is a slang term for aimless, pointless talk, especially when it goes on and on.

The related slang term yak is most commonly used as a verb that means to talk, especially aimlessly, without stopping, and about unimportant things. Yak is also spelled yack and yakety-yak can also be spelled yackety-yak, yackety-yack, or yakity-yak. Yack (or yak) is also sometimes used as a noun to mean the same thing as yakety-yak, as is the word yakking (or yacking), as in Quit your yakking!

Yakety-yak is the kind of trivial conversation that results from people yakking. Both terms are typically used at least somewhat negatively to criticize talking in such a way and imply that it is annoying or excessive.

Example: Would you two stop your yakety-yak and come help us?

Where does yakety-yak come from?

Terms like yak and yakety-yak are first recorded around the 1940s in the U.S. They are based on an imitation of the sound of background chatter.

Words like yakety-yak and its synonyms are often used in requests to stop such talk or in complaints about it, as in Quit that yakety-yak! or Stop your yakking!  Such terms especially imply that such talk is continuous and not about anything of substance.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to yakety-yak?

  • yackety-yak (alternate spelling)
  • yackety-yack (alternate spelling)
  • yakity-yak (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for yakety-yak?

What are some words that share a root or word element with yakety-yak

What are some words that often get used in discussing yakety-yak?

How is yakety-yak used in real life?

Yakety-yak is extremely informal. It is often used in at least a mildly negative way to imply that such talk is annoying.

 

Try using yakety-yak!

Which of the following words is a synonym of yakety-yak?

A. prattle
B. jabber
C. chatter
D. all of the above

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