Aubrey Carter
"3 Keys IELTS Certified Coach"
Lindsay McMahon
"The English Adventurer"

Have you heard the expression “yada, yada, yada” before?

What about “blah, blah, blah.”

Should you use these at work?

Today you’ll learn these and similar expressions and find out whether they are appropriate for work.

Eliminating detail

Lindsay asks Aubrey what she is up to today.

Aubrey responds “Well, after recording I’m going to pick up my kids at school yada, yada, yada, nothing interesting.”

Lindsay shares as well by saying “I’m the same, after finishing work, I’m going to the gym, yada, yada, yada, it’s a typical Monday for me.”

The phrase ‘yada, yada, yada’ is commonly used in conversations.

Today’s question

Today’s episode was inspired by a question from a listener, Sophia.

Hi Lindsay and Michelle.

I am Sophia. Thank you so much for your fantastic content! It’s been really helpful for me. I have a question about using phrases like “yada yada.” I recently saw an episode of Seinfeld where characters used it to skip over details, but it seemed to come off as disrespectful when overused. Is using phrases like this considered rude in English? If so, what are some more polite ways to skip over details in a conversation?

What do you think? Is ‘yada yada’ disrespectful or rude? What about when overused?

This is an interesting question and is very cultural.

Lindsay and Aubrey will dive deeper into this and similar expressions.

They’ll also let you know which can be used in the workplace.

A time and a place

There is always a right time and place to use certain expressions and phrases in a conversation.

The phrase “yada, yada, yada” can sound rude depending on the context.

These phrases are very informal and can seem disrespectful or dismissive.

You must learn how to use them correctly in a business setting.

#1: Yada yada yada

This phrase implies that the details being skipped are boring.

This originated from a Hebrew phrase and was first used in the comedy sitcom Seinfeld.

You can definitely use this if you’re referring to shortening your own comments because you don’t want to bore someone with specifics.

Example:

  • I was working on a big case and had to file before a deadline yada, yada, yada. Anyway, that’s why I’m still here at the office at 8 p.m.

Take note that it can be disrespectful or rude to say this to someone else.

It will imply that you find the information they’re sharing boring or you think they’re giving too much detail.

Here is a quick roleplay to show how to NOT use this phrase:

Lindsay: So I closed the deal but it almost didn’t happen because they rescheduled the meeting and then…
Aubrey: Yada, yada, yada. What matters is you closed the deal! Congratulations!

In this example, Aubrey is implying that she is bored with the details Lindsay is sharing.

This can be offensive and should be avoided.

#2: Blah blah blah

This has the same meaning as “yada, yada, yada.”

It’s a good alternative to say the details you are skipping are not important.

It keeps you from repeating using “yada, yada, yada” all the time.

Example:

  • I had to run so many errands for the VP today. I gave him a ride to the airport and then printed a bunch of things for him, blah blah blah, but I got it all done!

However, it is equally rude or disrespectful to use it about what someone else is saying.

Here is a mini-roleplay using this phrase in a rude way:

Aubrey: I’m shocked I got the job! I showed up to the interview later and was so flustered. I feel like a lot of my answers were terrible…

Lindsay: Blah blah blah. At least you got the job! Congratulations!

Here, Lindsay is implying she’s cutting Aubrey off because the details are boring.

You may here it used this way when someone is trying to encourage positivity.

However, it can be offensive so avoid using it this way.

#3: So on and so forth

This implies unnecessary details are being omitted or there is a long list that could keep going.

This is a more formal alternative to “yada, yada, yada” and “blah, blah, blah.”

Example:

  • We have so many events to look forward to! The conference is next week, the holiday party is right after that, then the new equipment is arriving and so on and so forth. It’s an exciting month!

#4: Etcetera

This has the same meaning as “so on and so forth.”

There are just to many details for you to share and it can be tedious to do so.

You will hear this a lot in the business world.

It is quite a bit more professional and polite than the other options.

Example:

  • Everyone needs to check in, get their name tag, pick up an itinerary, etcetera.

Roleplay

Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the phrases and expressions mentioned in today’s episode.

In this scenario, Lindsay and Aubrey are coworkers in a business meeting.

Aubrey: Okay, we’ve got a lot to get through. We need to assign roles for the new project, figure out who’s submitting the proposal and so on and so forth.
Lindsay: I’d love to take the lead on this. I have a little extra bandwidth this week.
Aubrey: Perfect, thank you! We’ll need you to choose a team and then submit a plan, etcetera.

Takeaway

We never want to waste time by giving more info than is necessary.

However, we also don’t want to break the connection by being rude or offensive with the phrases we use.

Today’s tips will help you save time and be respectful at work.

Never miss a good opportunity to make a connection with colleagues at social gatherings or at work.

What are other expressions you’ve heard that are similar to “yada, yada, yada?”

We’d love to hear what you can share in the comments below.

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