razzle-dazzle

[ raz-uhl-daz-uhl ]
See synonyms for: razzle-dazzlerazzle-dazzles on Thesaurus.com

nounInformal.
  1. showiness, brilliance, or virtuosity in technique or effect, often without concomitant substance or worth; flashy theatricality: The razzle-dazzle of the essay's metaphors cannot disguise its shallowness of thought.

  2. Chiefly Football. deceptive action typically consisting of a series of complex maneuvers, as a double reverse or hand-off, usually executed in a flashy manner: a team relying more on power and speed than razzle-dazzle.

  1. confusion, commotion, or riotous gaiety: He thrived on the lights, the crowds, the razzle-dazzle of the Las Vegas Strip at night.

adjective
  1. impressively opulent or decorative, especially in a new way; showy; flashy; eye-catching: a shopping center lined with razzle-dazzle boutiques.

  2. energetic, dynamic, or innovative: razzle-dazzle technology; a razzle-dazzle sales pitch.

Origin of razzle-dazzle

1
First recorded in 1890–95; rhyming compound based on dazzle

Words Nearby razzle-dazzle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use razzle-dazzle in a sentence

  • But the "Razzle Dazzle's" chauffeur looked at me in distress.

    The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham
  • And largely because "Razzle Dazzle" took matters into her own hands.

    The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham
  • In the middle of this razzle-dazzle come another crash and a flood of light.

    Plain Mary Smith | Henry Wallace Phillips
  • But he did try to give me credit for what "Razzle Dazzle" had herself accomplished.

    The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham

British Dictionary definitions for razzle-dazzle

razzle-dazzle

razzmatazz (ˈræzməˈtæz)

/ (ˈræzəlˈdæzəl) /


noun
  1. slang noisy or showy fuss or activity

Origin of razzle-dazzle

1
C19: rhyming compound based on dazzle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012