/ˈbɒl.əks/
#4461 of 5,000 Core 5000
Translation
A British word with two everyday jobs: shouted on its own it means "oh no", and said of what someone else has claimed it means nonsense. It is also a rude word for part of the male body, which is where it comes from. Medium strength. Recognise it, do not use it.
Word origin
From Old English beallucas, little balls. The nonsense sense is twentieth century and now the commonest one.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- beallucas
Examples
! .
On its own, a cry of annoyance.
.
Here it means nonsense, something that is not true.
's .
Confusingly, "the dog's bollocks" means excellent. British English at its strangest.
Used in
Stories
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