baloney

baloney
baloney 1894, variant of BOLOGNA (Cf. bologna) sausage (q.v.). As slang for "nonsense," 1922, Amer.Eng. (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]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • baloney — a*lo ney, n. 1. [Believed to be derived form balogna, but perhaps also influenced by blarney.] nonsense; foolishness; bunk; also used as an interjection. [Also spelled {boloney}.] [slang] [PJC] No matter how thin you slice it, it s still… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • baloney — (also boloney) ► NOUN informal ▪ nonsense. ORIGIN perhaps from BOLOGNA(Cf. ↑B) …   English terms dictionary

  • baloney — ☆ baloney [bə lō′nē ] n. [altered < bologna, sausage] 1. bologna sausage 2. Slang foolish or exaggerated talk or behavior; nonsense interj. Slang nonsense …   English World dictionary

  • baloney — {n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. * /John brags that he s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it s just a lot of baloney./ * / Will you marry Joe? mother asked. Baloney, Susie answered with a disgusted look./ * /Do… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • baloney — {n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. * /John brags that he s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it s just a lot of baloney./ * / Will you marry Joe? mother asked. Baloney, Susie answered with a disgusted look./ * /Do… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • baloney — noun informal Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. John brags that he s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it s just a lot of baloney. Will you marry Joe? mother asked. Baloney, Susie answered with a disgusted look. Do you still… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • baloney — [[t]bəlo͟ʊni[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you say that an idea or statement is baloney, you disapprove of it and think it is foolish or wrong. [mainly AM, INFORMAL] That s a load of baloney. Syn: rubbish, garbage …   English dictionary

  • baloney — AND bologna [ba loni] n. nonsense. (Also as an exclamation.) □ Don’t give me all that baloney! □ That’s just a lot of bologna. Don’t believe it for a minute. □ Baloney! You’re nuts! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • baloney — Bologna Bo*lo gna, n. 1. A city of Italy which has given its name to various objects. [1913 Webster] 2. A Bologna sausage; also informally called {baloney}. [1913 Webster] {Bologna sausage} [It. salsiccia di Bologna], a large sausage made of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • baloney — baloné ou baloney n. m. (Québec) Fam. Gros saucisson à pâte claire, jugé de qualité inférieure …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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