yaya papaya

English

Etymology

Rhyming expression, from yaya (“arrogant”) + papaya.

Pronunciation

  • (Singapore) IPA(key): [ˈjɑ(ː˦)ˈjɑ(ː˦) pəˈpɑjɑ], [- pɑˈpɑjɑ]

Adjective

yaya papaya (comparative more yaya papaya, superlative most yaya papaya)

  1. (Singlish) Conceited, arrogant, show-offy.
    Don’t so yaya papaya lah. You dono then don’t bluff. ― Stop lying and stop being a smart aleck.
    • 1998, Kirpal Singh, quoting Haresh Sharma, Interlogue: Studies in Singapore Literature, volume 6, page 63:
      Theresa Tan in an article headed ‘Glass Act’ in the magazine 8 Days quotes Sharma as saying ‘It started as a comedy… It was supposed to be hilarious, the works, a yaya papaya play! […]

See also

Other rhyming expressions in colloquial Malaysian and Singapore English

References

  • Lee, Jack Tsen-Ta (2004) “yaya”, in A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English
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