malarkey

Definition

Nonsense; rubbish.

Etymology

Of unknown origin; the word was popularized by the Irish-American cartoonist Thomas Aloysius (“Tad”) Dorgan (1877–1929), who started using it in cartoons on March 9, 1922. Maybe from Irish mallachtóireacht or Greek μαλακίες (malakíes)

Example Sentences

• "I decided it was a bunch of malarkey and stopped reading about halfway through."
• "Malachy—You said it—I wouldn't trust a lawyer no further than I could throw a case of Scotch."
• "It's a lot of mallarky for mothers, sisters, and sweethearts to ask "Laddie, when you're far away will you think of me?" The answer is NO! The girls who teach the soldier boys are kept busy as a bee. It's the soldier boys who pay."