bollocks
[ bol-uh ks ]
/ ˈbɒl əks /
noun
(used with a plural verb) Vulgar. ballocks.
(used with a singular or plural verb) British Slang: Vulgar. rubbish; nonsense; claptrap (often used as an interjection).
RELATED CONTENT
9 Synonyms For “Screwing Up”We’ve all had moments where we’ve really and truly screwed something up. An epic mistake (OK, maybe not on a historic, global scale like the February 26, 2017 Oscars). But still, we’re human, and mistakes do happen. There are a lot of words to describe things going south in a hurry. We’ve gathered a few here. You’ll notice they’re all very close in definition. Maybe …
Nearby words
bollard, bollinger body, bollito misto, bollix, bollocking, bollocks, bollworm, bollywood, bolo, bolo tie, bologna
Origin of bollocks
First recorded in 1735–45; variant of ballocks
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for bollocks
bollocks
ballocks or US bollix (ˈbɒlɪks) slang
/ (ˈbɒləks) /
pl n
another word for testiclesSee testicle
nonsense; rubbish
interjection
an exclamation of annoyance, disbelief, etc
the bollocks or the dog's bollocks something excellent
verb (usually foll by up)
to muddle or botch
Word Origin for bollocks
Old English beallucas, diminutive (pl) of beallu (unattested); see ball 1
usage
Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object. The fact that shops displaying the Sex Pistols' album containing this word were charged with offences defined in 19th-century Indecent Advertisement and Vagrancy Acts now seems hard to credit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012