bollocks

American  

[bol-uhks] / ˈbɒl əks /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) ballocks.

2. (used with a singular or plural verb) rubbish; nonsense; claptrap (often used as an interjection).

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bollocks British  

/ ˈbɒləks, ˈbɒlɪks /

plural noun

1. another word for testicles See testicle

2. nonsense; rubbish

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interjection

1. an exclamation of annoyance, disbelief, etc

2. something excellent

verb

1. to muddle or botch

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

Etymology

Origin of bollocks

First recorded in 1735–45; variant of ballocks

Example Sentences

There are four tracks from "Never Mind the Bollocks" where Lydon’s rotten call-outs are particularly effective: "Bodies," "Holidays in the Sun," “Problems” and “Seventeen.”

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024

His Décollage-style work featured on the cover of the Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols as well as the band's single Anarchy in the UK.

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2023

The Sex Pistols squeezed all of their mess into one tight album, 1977’s “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,” then disbanded in 1978, leaving a blast radius now known as punk rock.

From Washington Post • May 31, 2022

The former frontman of the British punk group recently recalled the rise and downfall that came with fame after the band’s only studio album, "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols."

From Fox News • Sep. 29, 2021

The Sex Pistols released only one studio album, "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols," in 1977, before breaking up.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2016