ballyhoo

American  

[bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo] / ˈbæl iˌhu, ˈbæl iˌhu, ˌbæl iˈhu /

noun

plural

ballyhoos

1. a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.

   Synonyms:

   hype, fanfare, hoopla, buildup

2. clamor or outcry.

3. a halfbeak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, inhabiting both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

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verb (used with or without object)

ballyhooed, ballyhooing

1. to advertise or push by ballyhoo.

ballyhoo British  

/ ˌbælɪˈhuː /

noun

1. a noisy, confused, or nonsensical situation or uproar

2. sensational or blatant advertising or publicity

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verb

1. (tr) to advertise or publicize by sensational or blatant methods

Etymology

Origin of ballyhoo

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Los Angeles’ city fathers, so adept at ballyhoo, just hated it that the highfalutin’ town up the Arroyo Seco had thought up their big flowery promotional parade first.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2022

After so much preseason ballyhoo around the teaming of James, Davis and Westbrook, the trio managed to play in only 21 games together — and went 11-10.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2022

Barely a decade ago, the New York men’s wear presentations merited their own dedicated week with all the attendant ballyhoo, parties, corporate sponsorships and street-style photographers trawling for Instagram fodder.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2022

That might be one reason why the fanfare surrounding Firth’s larger-than-life Hyde Park statue paled in comparison to the ballyhoo surrounding Goldblum’s.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2021

She was a hemp-rigged old ballyhoo out o' Quebec, an' gear was chafin' through all the time.

From The Grain Ship by Robertson, Morgan