ballyhoo

[ noun bal-ee-hoo; verb bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo ]
See synonyms for: ballyhooballyhooedballyhooing on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural bal·ly·hoos.
  1. a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.

  2. clamor or outcry.

  1. a halfbeak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, inhabiting both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

verb (used with or without object),bal·ly·hooed, bal·ly·hoo·ing.
  1. to advertise or push by ballyhoo.

Origin of ballyhoo

1
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; of uncertain origin

Other words for ballyhoo

Words Nearby ballyhoo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ballyhoo in a sentence

  • That's the dope, ain't it—the old dope of the reform gang—the ballyhoo of the bunch that can't let the existing order stand?

    Seven Keys to Baldpate | Earl Derr Biggers
  • Why not hire a band, too; and get a ballyhoo to bark for your show?

    Rich Man, Poor Man | Maximilian Foster

British Dictionary definitions for ballyhoo

ballyhoo

/ (ˌbælɪˈhuː) /


nouninformal
  1. a noisy, confused, or nonsensical situation or uproar

  2. sensational or blatant advertising or publicity

verb-hoos, -hooing or -hooed
  1. (tr) mainly US to advertise or publicize by sensational or blatant methods

Origin of ballyhoo

1
C19: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012