ho-hum
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: So lacking in interest, excitement, or variety as to cause mental weariness or boredom; dull, tedious.
Usage
The adjective "ho-hum" is used to describe something that is uninteresting, monotonous, or fails to capture one's attention. It often conveys a sense of disappointment or underwhelming mediocrity. It is typically used in informal contexts.
Examples
- The lecture was so ho-hum that half the audience fell asleep.
- After the exciting trailer, the movie itself was rather ho-hum.
- She gave a ho-hum presentation, simply reading from her slides without any enthusiasm.
- The food was adequate but ho-hum; nothing on the menu was particularly memorable.
Advanced Usage
- As a standalone interjection: Sometimes used to express boredom or a lack of enthusiasm in response to something.
- "How was the meeting?" "Eh, ho-hum."
Variants and Related Words
- Ho-hum is a reduplicative word, formed by repeating a sound. It is typically written with a hyphen.
- Humdrum (adj.): Very ordinary, routine, and dull. While similar, "humdrum" often emphasizes monotony and routine, whereas "ho-hum" emphasizes a lack of stimulating qualities.
Synonyms
- Boring
- Dull
- Tedious
- Monotonous
- Uninteresting
- Wearisome
- Tiresome
Antonyms
- Exciting
- Interesting
- Stimulating
- Engaging
- Riveting
- Captivating
Idioms and Phrases
- A ho-hum affair: An event that is boring or uneventful.
- The party turned out to be a ho-hum affair, with everyone leaving early.
Adjective
- so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
- a boring evening with uninteresting people
- the deadening effect of some routine tasks
- a dull play
- his competent but dull performance
- a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
- what an irksome task the writing of long letters is- Edmund Burke
- tedious days on the train
- the tiresome chirping of a cricket- Mark Twain
- other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome