megillah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, primarily North American
Quick answer
What does “megillah” mean?
A long, complicated, or tedious story or explanation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, complicated, or tedious story or explanation.
The word can refer to a long, convoluted story, an unnecessarily detailed account, or a long, tiresome procedure. Its original, capitalized meaning is one of the five biblical scrolls (e.g., Book of Esther) read during Jewish holidays.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Extremely rare in UK English. It is primarily used in North American English, especially in communities with Yiddish/Hebrew linguistic influence. British speakers are unlikely to understand it.
Connotations
In the US, it often carries a lighthearted, colloquial, sometimes slightly humorous connotation when describing an overcomplicated situation. In the UK, it has essentially no established connotation due to lack of use.
Frequency
Negligible in the UK. Low, but occasionally encountered in informal American English, particularly in media and in certain regional/demographic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “megillah” in a Sentence
[Subject] gave/sent/told [Indirect Object] (the) whole megillah.Don't make/go into (a) megillah about it.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously: "The vendor gave us the whole megillah about their supply chain problems."
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Informal, primarily American: "I don't need the whole megillah, just give me the bottom line."
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megillah”
- Capitalizing it when not referring to the biblical scrolls.
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Assuming it's a common word in all English varieties.
- Spelling: 'megila', 'megilah', 'megilla' are common misspellings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and colloquial, primarily used in North American English with roots in Yiddish.
It is a fixed phrase meaning 'the entire long, complicated story or affair,' often implying more detail than necessary.
It is extremely rare in British English. Most British speakers would not be familiar with it, and it is not part of common UK vocabulary.
Yes, but only when referring specifically to one of the five scrolls of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., the Megillah of Esther). In its common informal meaning, it is not capitalized.
A long, complicated, or tedious story or explanation.
Megillah: in British English it is pronounced /məˈɡɪlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈɡɪlə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the whole megillah”
- “go into a megillah about something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone telling a MEGa-long, sILLy tAHe about a minor event – a MEG-ILL-AH. It sounds long and winding.
Conceptual Metaphor
LENGTH IS COMPLEXITY / BOREDOM IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (a long, heavy story)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'megillah' most appropriately used?