flim-flam
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
1538 as noun, 1660 as verb. By reduplication. Perhaps from a dialectical word or Scandinavian; compare Old Norse flim (“lampoon, mockery”).[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
flim-flam (plural flim-flams) (Not recorded with this spelling in major dictionaries; usually spelled flimflam.)
- Misinformation; bunkum; false information presented as true.
- Most reports of supernatural occurrences turn out to be flim-flam when carefully investigated.
- confidence game, con game
- (archaic) table tennis
Derived terms[edit]
- flim-flam man: Confidence trickster
- flam
Synonyms[edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:nonsense
References[edit]
- Flimflam / Claptrap, The Word Detective, 2009–04–13
