ballyhoo

WOTD - 12 June 2006    

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bæliˈhuː/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

1. Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
2. Noisy shouting or uproar.

Translations

sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity

Bulgarian: сензация (bg), патърдия (bg)

noise shouting or uproar

Bulgarian: шум (bg), врява (bg) German: Klamauk m.

Spanish: alboroto (es), jaleo (es)

Verb

ballyhoo (third-person singular simple present ballyhoos, present participle ballyhooing, simple past and past participle ballyhooed)

1. To sensationalise or make grand claims.
   • 1933 — Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat (7 May)

     Industry has picked up, railroads are carrying more freight, farm prices are better, but I am not going to indulge in issuing proclamations of over-enthusiastic assurance. We cannot ballyhoo ourselves back to prosperity.

Translations

to sensationalise or make grand claims

German: marktschreierisch anpreisen

Spanish: alborotar (es)

Related terms

• ballyhooed a

Etymology 2

Spanish balajú

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

1. An inshore, surface-dwelling species of needlefish forming sizeable schools.

Translations

species of needlefish

Etymology 3

Possibly from Spanish balahu (“schooner”).

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

1. An unseaworthy or slovenly ship.

References

• "Ballyhoo" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.