yakety-yak
or yack·e·ty-yak, yack·e·ty-yack
Origin of yakety-yak
Words nearby yakety-yak
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.
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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?
- yakking
- yak
- yack
- yapping
- yammering
- yammer
- chatter
- jabber
- prattle
- prate
- babble
- yadda yadda yadda
- talk
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.
And now to work for a bit. Should give my followers a rest from all of the yakety-yak.
— Bethanne Patrick (@TheBookMaven) June 24, 2009
None of this yakety-yak or what #RIM says to the press matters much. Only a great device and software (and sales) matters. #blackberry10
— Greg O'Brien (@gregobr) January 30, 2013
Too much yakety-yak? High-tech devices help drivers put down the cell phone. NYT: http://bit.ly/5yLliu
— PEMCO Insurance (@PEMCO) November 24, 2009
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