N2 — outside your level filter
やら〜やら
やら〜やらyara yaraN2neutral
what with X and Y — a jumble listed when overwhelmed or confused
引っ越しやら手続きやらで、先週はろくに寝てないよ。
hikkoshi yara tetsuzuki yara de, senshuu wa roku ni netenai yo.
What with the move and all the paperwork, I barely slept last week. casual
合格の知らせに、母は泣くやら笑うやらの大騒ぎだった。
goukaku no shirase ni, haha wa naku yara warau yara no oosawagi datta.
At the news that I'd passed, my mother made a huge fuss, crying one moment and laughing the next. neutral
Same meaning3
listing X and Y, and the like
All examples5
what with X and Y (and the rest of it) — exhausting
引っ越しやら手続きやらで、先週はろくに寝てないよ。
hikkoshi yara tetsuzuki yara de, senshuu wa roku ni netenai yo.
What with the move and all the paperwork, I barely slept last week. casual
年末は大掃除やら年賀状やらで、あっという間に過ぎてしまいます。
nenmatsu wa oosouji yara nengajou yara de, atto iu ma ni sugite shimaimasu.
At the end of the year, what with the big clean and the New Year's cards, the days are gone before you know it. neutral
会場の設営やら来賓のご案内やらで、担当者は座る暇もございませんでした。
kaijou no setsuei yara raihin no go annai yara de, tantousha wa suwaru hima mo gozaimasen deshita.
What with setting up the hall and showing the guests in, the staff on duty never had a moment to sit down. formal
crying one moment and laughing the next — mixed reactions painted at once
合格の知らせに、母は泣くやら笑うやらの大騒ぎだった。
goukaku no shirase ni, haha wa naku yara warau yara no oosawagi datta.
At the news that I'd passed, my mother made a huge fuss, crying one moment and laughing the next. neutral
名前を呼ばれたときは、嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやらで、顔が真っ赤になった。
namae o yobareta toki wa, ureshii yara hazukashii yara de, kao ga makka ni natta.
When my name was called I was delighted and mortified at once, and my face went bright red. neutral
How it's formed2
Notes
Two items stand for more; a trailing で marks the cause.