cobblers

/ ˈkɒbləz /

plural noun

1. rubbish; nonsense

   a load of old cobblers

2. another word for testicles See testicle

interjection

1. an exclamation of strong disagreement

Usage

The use of cobblers meaning "nonsense" is so mild that hardly anyone these days is likely to be offended by it. Most people are probably unaware of its rhyming-slang association with ``balls'', and therefore take it at its face value as a more colourful synonym for ``nonsense''. The classic formulation "a load of (old) cobblers" seems to be particularly popular in the tabloid press

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobblers¹

C20: from rhyming slang cobblers' awls balls