brummagem
adjective
showy but inferior and worthless.
Jump To:
brummagem
American
[bruhm-uh-juhm]
/ ˈbrʌm ə dʒəm /
adjective
noun
Brummagem
British
/ ˈbrʌmədʒəm /
noun
-
Often shortened to: Brum. an informal name for Birmingham
-
(sometimes not capital) something that is cheap and flashy, esp imitation jewellery
adjective
Etymology
Origin of brummagem
First recorded in 1675–85; local variant of Birmingham, England (compare Bromwichham, Bromecham (17th century), Middle English Burmingeham ); originally in allusion to counterfeit coins produced there in the 17th century
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To the feeble hope, ordinarily, of some sort of brummagem Utopia of creature-comforts, characterized by equality of condition, uniformity of life and thought, pervasive state regulation and the obliteration of traditional morality.
From Time Magazine Archive
Climax of the whole brummagem business was the "Zoro Gardens."
From Time Magazine Archive
Rosary-like, 202-page addenda to Author-Naturalist Peattie's An Almanac for Moderns, brummagem "classic."
From Time Magazine Archive
More than that, she has lived a life so rich in history that, by comparison, the attractive twentysomethings the Food Network so desperately wants to turn into stars seem like brummagem pretenders.
From Time Magazine Archive
In spite of his "brummagem" courage the wrath of the violent god was tremendous to him.
From Marion Fay by Anthony Trollope
An early work of his, "Brummagem," was performed in PNB's 1978 "Summer Inventions" workshop, but he soured on the company after PNB reneged on a promise to provide live music for the piece.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 24, 2012
"In my youth," said the Sage, "Fair Debate was the law, And genuine Eloquence rife; And so in an age of mere Brummagem 'jaw' I can still hold my own in the strife."
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 105, July 15th 1893 by Various
For we have sacrificed our bread supply to the production of Brummagem wares.
From Stand Up, Ye Dead by Norman Maclean
He was a customer of mine when I was in the bookselling business at Brummagem, as we called it.
From That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 1 by Frances Eleanor Trollope
O Brummagem Joseph, my boy, will you halt on Your sturdy, but scarce diplomatical way, And take from an ancient disciple of Walton A few friendly hints about patience and "play"?
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 93, November 5, 1887 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
