This week’s theme
Americanisms

This week’s words
humdinger
ripsnorter
ballyhoo
foofaraw
lollapalooza

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A Word A Day
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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(BAL-ee-hoo)

MEANING:

noun: 1. Clamor or uproar. 2. Sensational or extravagant promotion.
verb tr.: To promote or publicize in a sensational or extravagant manner.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1901.

USAGE:

“The Conservatives have already embarrassed themselves by joining last week’s ballyhoo over rescinding the knighthood of Sir Fred Goodwin, the RBS chief whose mess Mr Hester was brought in to fix.”
Stephen Hester Is Being Paid Well for Tackling One of the Most Important Jobs in Britain; The Times (London, UK); Jan 28, 2012.

“Mr. Jasmin resorted to old-fashioned ballyhoo to promote the fair. He described the man-made islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River as coming ‘out of the water like Botticelli’s Venus.’”
Tom Hawthorn; Promoter Brought Expo 67 to the World; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Aug 16, 2019.

See more usage examples of ballyhoo in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: