flam
1 Americannoun
-
a deception or trick.
-
a falsehood; lie.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
noun
-
a falsehood, deception, or sham
-
nonsense; drivel
verb
noun
Etymology
Origin of flam1
First recorded in 1615–25; short for flimflam ( def. )
Origin of flam2
First recorded in 1790–1800; imitative
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.
See Examples For:
During the chat, Grohl approximates that momentous flam fill, palms on thighs, and Williams looks like he just opened the greatest birthday present of his life.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 16, 2022
The way I learned, you start with the right foot, marking the beat with a flam, a heel-toe series that merges into a single homemade kick-drum blast.
From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2022
You won’t give a damn even when they’re lying, You’ll keep buying their eternal flam!
From Washington Post ● Jun. 18, 2015
Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Archive/Press Association Ima Imagine, dear tattle connoisseurs, the Mill's guttural grunt of glee when commencing upon this morning's festival of flim flam.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 12, 2013
But it don't really remind me of flippity flap flam zingalee zay weee.
From "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds
Writing the books – as opposed to flamming up the sales figures to flatter the subjects – was actually a job I rather relished.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 3, 2010
Where'd she get all that money she's been flamming about with, and that grand house, better than new, with all the latest improvements.
From An Alabaster Box by Mulford, Stockton
"You're flamming me!" she cried angrily and snatched her hand away.
From Peregrine's Progress by Farnol, Jeffery
Stifled sounds of weeping, a vast, confused rumour of lamentations, running feet and flamming doors, came from behind him; his aged, dry voice, much firmer and very distinct, was speaking to me.
From Romance by Conrad, Joseph
"He spends half his time flamming" i.e. in the society of the other sex.
From A Collection of College Words and Customs by Hall, Benjamin Homer
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.
