rum-ti-tum
/ˌrʌmtɪˈtʌm/exclamation
Used as a meaningless refrain or to represent a regular rhythmic sound.
noun
Rhythmic repetitiveness, especially in music or verse; an instance of this.
adjective
Especially of music or verse: repetitive, trivial, commonplace.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Trick for Trick. Imitative of the sound of a drum roll. The some forms show alteration of the ending apparently for the purposes of internal rhyme. With the use as adverb, compare rum-ti-too.
- Thatcher, Margaret
- Thatcher's child
- that does it!
- that is as may be
- that is (or that is to say)
- that is to say
- that makes two of us
- that one could cut with a knife
- that (or the) ship has sailed
- that's about it
- that's about the size of it
- that said
- that's an idea
- that's as maybe
- that's a thought!
- that's done it!
- that's flat
- that's it
- that's life
- that's my boy (or girl)!
- that's (or them's) the breaks
- that's that
- that's the idea
- that's the stuff
- that's the way the cookie crumbles