ta-da

[prettygoodword]

ta-da or ta-dah or other variations (tuh-DAH) - inter., used as a mock fanfare to call attention to something.


In most uses, this is close to an exact synonym of voilà. This is also more recent than I expected, as its first attestation is from the early 1920s. This is supposedly imitative of a trumpet fanfare, though I usually think of those as having at least four notes: tuh tuh-tuh-TAH! Though I'm sure there's many more patterns than that. One dictionary notes that the closest thing to the opposite of ta-da is whomp-whomp, which is also imitative of brass, in that case of a sad trombone slide (which I usually think of as three notes).

---L.

Comments

[movingfinger]

I think that ta-dah is derivative of the circus and stage "trick accomplished! applaud now!" two-note cue. Its connotation is jokier and more casual than voilà. Of course voilà is also a stage reference, from magicians' patter...

[full_metal_ox]

And “Behold!” has a high ceremonial tone.

[prettygoodword]

Oh, that fanfare. Makes sense.