cockamamie

or cock·a·ma·my

[ kok-uh-mey-mee ]
See synonyms for cockamamie on Thesaurus.com
adjectiveSlang.
  1. ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical: full of wild schemes and cockamamie ideas.

Origin of cockamamie

1
Probably earlier than 1940–45, Americanism; in its original sense, “paper strip with an image which could be transferred to the skin when moistened,” apparently alteration of decalcomania; the current sense “ridiculous” probably by association with cock-and-bull story, poppycock, etc.

Words Nearby cockamamie

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

How to use cockamamie in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cockamamie

cockamamie

/ (ˌkɒkəˈmeɪmɪ) /


adjective
  1. slang, mainly US ridiculous or nonsensical: a cockamamie story

Origin of cockamamie

1
C20: in an earlier sense: a paper transfer, prob. a variant of decalcomania

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