la-di-da

or la-de-da, lah-di-dah

[ lah-dee-dah ]

interjection

1. (used as an expression of derision directed at affected gentility or pretentious refinement.)

adjective

1. affected; pretentious; foppish:

   a la-di-da manner.

noun

1. an affected or pretentious person.
2. behavior or speech characterized by affected or exaggerated gentility.

la-di-da

/ ˌlɑːdiːˈdɑː /

adjective

1. informal.
   affecting exaggeratedly genteel manners or speech

noun

1. a la-di-da person

Word History and Origins

Origin of la-di-da¹

First recorded in 1880–85; derisive imitation of affected, pseudo-elevated speech

Word History and Origins

Origin of la-di-da¹

C19: mockingly imitative of affected speech

Example Sentences

“If you send him here, to this la-di-da school, he’ll forget who he is and be afraid of his own people.”

From New York Times

"At the risk of sounding la-di-da, this is, truly, my Proustian madeleine."

From Salon

And then, la-di-da, they’ll go back to pretending this is a normal presidency rather than a runaway train.

From Washington Post

There is a preposterous la-di-da in trying to use philosophy to make sense of Mr. Trump—even dragging in, as I intend to do, the greatest of the pre-Socratic Greeks.

From Wall Street Journal

Mrs. Stahlbaum, laden with la-di-da airs and graces, needs a drink before her party guests arrive, and yet she truly loves her children.

From New York Times