cobblers
Britishplural noun
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rubbish; nonsense
a load of old cobblers
-
another word for testicles See testicle
interjection
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
Etymology
Origin of cobblers
C20: from rhyming slang cobblers' awls balls
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.
In November 2015, the club was sold to Kelvin Thomas and the Cobblers avoided a winding-up petition over an unpaid debt to HMRC, allowing focus to return to the pitch.
From BBC • May 2, 2024
If the Cobblers game finished 3-1, Bristol Rovers would have to win 7-0.
From BBC • May 7, 2022
He played more than 100 games for the Cobblers between 1911 and 1914 before dying aged 29 during World War One.
From BBC • Oct. 21, 2021
The Cobblers are expected to take at least 7,000 fans to cheer them on after the 2-2 draw in the first match.
From The Guardian • Jan. 19, 2016
Cobblers were spies who specialized in making false documents, like birth certificates and passports, necessary to create a cover identity.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
