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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of yakety-yak¹

First recorded in 1945–50; apparently imitative

Example Sentences

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

From Literature

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.

From Washington Times

The election yakety-yak will eventually turn to issues.

From Washington Times

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

From Literature

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

From New York Times

Related Words

• chat
• communicate
• convey
• declare
• deliver
• express
• go
• say
• shout
• tell
• utter
• voice
• whisper

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?

• 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? 

• yak

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

• yap
• smalltalk
• conversation
• endless
• trivial
• unimportant
• complain
• on and on
• phone
• blah-blah-blah

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