phony-baloney

American  

[foh-nee-buh-loh-nee] / ˈfoʊ ni bəˈloʊ ni /

noun

1. nonsense; baloney.

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adjective

1. nonsensical; foolish.

Etymology

Origin of phony-baloney

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

All they have to do to get a shot at a life-changing payout is register — which state and federal law rightly make very easy — and sign Musk’s phony-baloney petition.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

To move on from dance to another kind of musical performance, I didn’t click much at all with Her Smell, which I found to be pretty phony-baloney, despite Elisabeth Moss’ valiant efforts.

From Slate • Dec. 25, 2019

Ideas are invoked but not fully developed: Jimmy pulls off a phony-baloney P.R. stunt; he gets into elder law and plans to sue an old-age home.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 6, 2015

It’s part of the league’s phony-baloney campaign to act like it cares about head injuries.

From Chicago Tribune • Mar. 6, 2014

Some of the Dinar scams operate the same way: You don’t actually get any Dinars, but instead just a statement showing that you have Dinars or some sort of phony-baloney “Certificate” of ownership.

From Forbes • Oct. 4, 2012