Baloney


Slang. foolishness; nonsense.
Informal. bologna.
Slang. nonsense.
Contemporary Examples

“Stop the baloney, Leslie,” said the tall, red-haired general famed for his hawkishness.
The Forgotten Cold War: 20 Years Later, Myths About U.S. Victory Persist Leslie H. Gelb December 23, 2011

But the idea that this is some kind of unprecedented White House attack or pushback on the press is just baloney.
The Real War on Fox Benjamin Sarlin October 29, 2009

Speculation that the scrutiny of Tea Party groups might have been directed out of the White House is “baloney,” says Dean.
IRS Audits, Benghazi, Sebelius: Obama’s Second Term Is Scandal Heaven Eleanor Clift May 13, 2013

baloney and wishful thinking aside, the MB would be calamitous for U.S. security.
Beware Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Leslie H. Gelb January 28, 2011

The hypocrisy here is monumental, even by traditional foreign-policy standards of baloney.
Let Libya’s Neighbors Fix It Leslie H. Gelb March 15, 2011

In recent years, that ancient sales tactic has been easy to dismiss as baloney.
Housing’s Back—and That’s Bad News Daniel Gross January 22, 2013

And he squeezed my mom nine times, as if she was a baloney or something!
GOP Debates: Why They Baffle Democrats and Charm Republicans Lee Siegel November 23, 2011

Historical Examples

Sometimes I come close to thinking it’s a lot of baloney trying to be any decent kind of Demon, even a good Entertainer.
The Big Time Fritz Reuter Leiber

But you had been talking to some liar in Dallas who has been feeding you all this baloney about me.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

I am saying—and I am going to stick to my story—that Lee is an agent, then a lot of this is a lot of baloney.
Warren Commission (1 of 26): Hearings Vol. I (of 15) The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

noun
(informal) foolish talk; nonsense
(mainly US) another name for bologna sausage
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]

noun

Nonsense; pretentious talk; bold and deceitful absurdities; applesauce, bullshit, hooey: No matter how you slice it, it’s still baloney
A stupid person: You dumb baloney

verb

: And don’t try to baloney me, either

[late 1920s+, perhaps fr Irish balonie, ”nonsense”; about 1920 the word meant ”an unskilled boxer; palooka”]

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