Nearby Words

humbug

[huhm-buhg] Example Sentences Origin

hum·bug

[huhm-buhg] noun, verb, -bugged, -bug·ging, interjection
noun
1.
something intended to delude or deceive.
2.
the quality of falseness or deception.
3.
a person who is not what he or she claims or pretends to be; impostor.
4.
something devoid of sense or meaning; nonsense: a humbug of technical jargon.
5.
British. a variety of hard mint candy.
verb (used with object)
6.
to impose upon by humbug or false pretense; delude; deceive.

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Humbug is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
to bark; yelp.
to run away hurriedly; flee.
verb (used without object)
7.
to practice humbug.
interjection

Origin:
1730–40; origin uncertain

hum·bug·ger, noun


1. imposition. 2. pretense, sham. 3. pretender, deceiver, charlatan, swindler, quack, confidence man. 6. cheat, swindle, trick, fool, dupe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To humbug
Example Sentences
  • The production of humbug has become a systematic, even industrial process.
  • It can all seem too sweet, or too calculated, and thus easy to dismiss as a humbug or a.
  • Chekhov thwacks away at pretentious fools who cover up idealess humbug with hypocrisy and presumed convictions.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
humbug (ˈhʌmˌbʌɡ)
 
n
1.  a person or thing that tricks or deceives
2.  nonsense; rubbish
3.  (Brit) a hard boiled sweet, usually flavoured with peppermint and often having a striped pattern
 
vb , -bugs, -bugging, -bugged
4.  to cheat or deceive (someone)
 
[C18: of unknown origin]
 
'humbugger
 
n
 
'humbuggery
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

humbug
1751, student slang, "trick, jest, hoax, deception," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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