cockamamie

Or cock·a·ma·my

[kok-uh-mey-mee]

adjective

Slang.

1. ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical.

   full of wild schemes and cockamamie ideas.

cockamamie

/ ˌkɒkəˈmeɪmɪ /

adjective

1. slang,  ridiculous or nonsensical

   a cockamamie story

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockamamie¹

Probably earlier than 1940–45, in its original sense, “paper strip with an image which could be transferred to the skin when moistened,” apparently alteration of decalcomania; the current sense “ridiculous” probably by association with cock-and-bull story, poppycock, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockamamie¹

C20: in an earlier sense: a paper transfer, prob. a variant of _decalcomania

Example Sentences

A director of national intelligence who’s shown no great abundance of that quality but, rather, an eagerness to twist and bend facts like a coat hanger, serving whatever cockamamie claim the president burps up.

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But Kennedy is not one to let the facts stand in the way of his cockamamie theories.

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The state of Texas sued on this cockamamie theory that the entire Affordable Care Act had become unconstitutional when Congress reduced the penalty for not having health insurance to $0.

Read more on Salon

The case is headed to the Supreme Court where we will almost assuredly see at least two, probably three, of the justices uphold this cockamamie definition.

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It was a cockamamie plan, but he maintained he was serious about it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aberrant 
• absurd 
• crazy 
• foolish 
• incoherent 
• insane 
• preposterous 
• ridiculous 
• stupid 
• unreasonable 
• unsound 
• unwise 
• wrong