Idioms · 4 entries

Nonsense

What does "Nonsense" mean?

Nonsense.

The United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom.

Britain - 17th century. The term derives from the slang name of a violin bow, that is, a fiddle stick.

Britain, 18th century. Deriving from an African source.

Entry 1

Meaning Nonsense.

Usage Widely used, especially in the UK. Slang and borderline swearing - not one for your Grandma.

Example

He says he has invented a perpetual motion machine, which is clearly a load of cobblers.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

Meaning Nonsense.

Usage Mostly used in the UK but known elsewhere too. Mostly used by the older generation.

Example

You can’t keep champagne fresh by putting a spoon in the neck of the bottle - that’s a load of codswallop.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Meaning An exclamation meaning 1. Nonsense; rubbish. 2. An indication of mild annoyance.

Usage Britain - but only by the older generation.

Example

1. You say you can run 100 yards in 10 seconds. I say fiddlesticks. 2. Oh fiddlesticks! that's the third time I've been caught by that speed trap going just over 30 mph.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Meaning Nonsense or meaningless speech.

Example

His speech about magical phenomenology seemed to make sense at the time but now I realise it was just mumbo-jumbo.

Pronunciation