Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- interjection meaningless syllables used when humming a tune
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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I love the suggestion that asking kids to read the Shirley Jackson story is sadistic, but substituting "Housekeeping" makes for a tra-la-la, "plot-free" romp.
And then they were upon her, and with good reason, too. Roger Sutton 2007
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Welcome to the Shelf Talker, a semi-regular tra-la-la through the the world of books, authors and readings.
Kevin Smokler: The Shelf Talker: Lorrie Moore, Rebecca Solnit and Silly Putty 2009
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As recounted in the Palace show, Kay Thompson summarized her life as "A lot of luck, a lot of joy, and a whole lot of tra-la-la."
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It's much easier to bury our heads in the sand and "tra-la-la" until our faces turn blue.
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We skipped the caviar and what-not on top as only one of us would have loved that and it was not the person standing over the stove, tra-la-la.
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I'll try to convince them that this is just the time of year, tra-la-la.
Walking the Dog: Addendum Susan Palwick 2006
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‘You mean people actually pay to replace the usual beeping with some tra-la-la as a call signal on their cell-phone?’
The Playboy Boss's Chosen Bride Darcy, Emma 2006
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It was originally inspired by Dame Edith Sitwell, who had a way with words -- I like the idea of quick, clicky assonance and alliteration like 'See me dance the polka, said Mr. Wag like a bear, with my top hat and my whiskers, that tra-la-la trapped affair.'
The Annotated "China Cat Sunflower" Robert Hunter 2005
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All three Chyx in the two cars shouted in practiced tra-la-la voices, "Good night, Blake Carrington, you hulking piece of man meat!"
Microserfs Coupland, Douglas 1995
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Jazz supper scene in _Oh My! _ All the materials used are three yards of embroidered chiffon, six yards of tinsel fringe and six dozen tinsel tassels; and anything so completely swish and so immensely tra-la-la you simply never!
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, April 2, 1919 Various
bilby commented on the word tra-la-la
I can't remember the tune, either :-(
September 26, 2008