lah-di-dah

See also: la-di-da and lah-de-dah

English

Alternative forms

• la-di-da, lah-de-dah, la-de-da
• lardy-dardy (archaic)

Etymology

c. 1880s, with a comeback in the 1980s due to its use in Annie Hall (1977) by Woody Allen, although in a different context, spoken by the actress Diane Keaton.^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌlɑːdiːˈdɑː/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː

Adjective

lah-di-dah (comparative more lah-di-dah, superlative most lah-di-dah)

1. (British, derogatory) Of or from the upper class of society.
2. (British, derogatory) Affecting upper-class or superior airs.

   Synonyms: pretentious, snooty; see also Thesaurus:arrogant

   She was all la-di-da, with her nose in the air, and we were all struggling not to laugh because that would be gauche.

Usage notes

The adjectival usage is not common in the US.

Translations

having pretension or haughtiness

Dutch: chic de friemel (nl) French: prout-prout (fr) Hungarian: affektáló (hu), finomkodó (hu), modoros (hu)

Interjection

lah-di-dah

1. (mildly derogatory) Expression of disdain for pretension or haughtiness.

   Well, lah-di-dah, mister Park Avenue manicure.

2. (US) Not a care in the world. (used in a sing-song voice, for childhood rhymes)

See also

• ooh la la

 

References

1. Gary Martin (1997–) “Lah-di-dah”, in The Phrase Finder.
2. la-di-da at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.