taradiddle

American  

[tar-uh-did-l] / ˌtær əˈdɪd l /

Or tarradiddle

noun

Informal.

1. a small lie; fib.

2. pretentious nonsense.

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taradiddle British  

/ ˈtærəˌdɪdəl /

noun

1. another spelling of tarradiddle

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Etymology

Origin of taradiddle

First recorded in 1790–1800; origin uncertain; cf. diddle ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Catherine Rampell’s Nov. 16 op-ed, “Delusions on both sides of the aisle,” provided a cogent explanation of the current inflation taradiddle.

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2021

Of course, perhaps there really are “both sides” to this question: truth and taradiddle.

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2021

Photograph: Dan Kitwood/AFP/Getty Images The folderol and taradiddle, Black Rod's knocking and all the arcanery of preposterous ceremony did nothing to gild a lame little programme.

From The Guardian • May 8, 2013

This is his film biography, and it declares a ringing hail and farewell to the hero, with all the domestic and military taradiddle that Hollywood finds necessary on such occasions.

From Time Magazine Archive

Well; never mind, I accept the responsibility, and will create even another taradiddle.

From April's Lady A Novel by Hungerford, Margaret Wolfe