baloney
pronunciation
How to pronounce baloney in British English:
UK [bəˈləʊni]
How to pronounce baloney in American English:
US [bəˈloʊni]
-
- Noun:
- pretentious or silly talk or writing
Word Origin
- baloney (n.)
- 1894, variant of bologna sausage (q.v.). As slang for "nonsense," 1922, American English (popularized 1930s by N.Y. Gov. Alfred E. Smith; in this sense sometimes said to have been one of the coinages of legendary "Variety" staffer Jack Conway), from earlier sense of "idiot" (by 1915), perhaps influenced by blarney, but usually regarded as being from the sausage, as a type traditionally made from odds and ends. It also was ring slang early 20c. for an inferior fighter. The aristocratic Kid's first brawl for sugar was had in Sandusky, Odryo, with a boloney entitled Young Du Fresne. He gave the green and nervous Kid a proper pastin' for six rounds and the disgusted Dummy sold me his find for a hundred bucks, leavin' the clubhouse just in time to miss seein' the boy get stung, get mad, and win by a knockout. [H.C. Witwer, "The Leather Pushers," "Colliers," Oct. 16, 1920]
Example
- 1. Let us cut the baloney on this subject .
- 2. All this hype about decoupling and china pulling the world out of recession is baloney .
- 3. Most of the comments here are the typical cultural baloney .
- 4. There is so much pure medical baloney on the web that unless you actually practice medicine , it 's hard to recognize .
- 5. Scientific research calls for questioning and criticism , but it also calls for these questions and criticisms to have foundation ; not any old nonsensical baloney can simply be considered questioning or criticism .