あれやこれや
あれやこれや
noun
this and that; various things; one thing and another
1.
this and that; various things; one thing and another
An expression referring to a variety of different things, matters, or concerns without specifying them individually.
あれやこれやと忙しい。
I'm busy with this and that.
あれやこれやと考えているうちに、夜が明けてしまった。
While I was thinking about one thing and another, dawn came.
引っ越しの準備であれやこれやと買い物をしていたら、思った以上にお金がかかった。
Buying this and that in preparation for the move ended up costing more than I expected.
Formed from あれ (that) + や (and) + これ (this) + や (and). Often followed by the particle と when used adverbially. Conveys a sense of dealing with multiple scattered matters, often with a nuance of being overwhelmed or busy. Can be used both for physical things and abstract concerns.
USAGE:
- あれやこれやと + verb: doing various things
- あれやこれやで + result: because of various things
SIMILAR WORDS:
- あれこれ: this and that — shorter, more common form with essentially the same meaning
- 色々: various — more neutral, simply indicating variety without the scattered nuance
- 何やかや: one thing or another — similar nuance of miscellaneous items or concerns