bollocks

American  

[bol-uhks] / ˈbɒl əks /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) ballocks.

2. (used with a singular or plural verb) rubbish; nonsense; claptrap (often used as an interjection).

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bollocks British  

/ ˈbɒləks, ˈbɒlɪks /

plural noun

1. another word for testicles See testicle

2. nonsense; rubbish

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interjection

1. an exclamation of annoyance, disbelief, etc

2. something excellent

verb

1. to muddle or botch

Usage

Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object. The fact that shops displaying the Sex Pistols' album containing this word were charged with offences defined in 19th-century Indecent Advertisement and Vagrancy Acts now seems hard to credit

Etymology

Origin of bollocks

First recorded in 1735–45; variant of ballocks

Example Sentences

Please feel free to tweet complicated strategy opinions at me on Twitter, or tell me I'm utter bollocks, or join me in praising Mo Salah, the only Liverpool player I can name.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 5, 2019

“Plots, secrets, fake scoops, bollocks, and backward thinking: it takes just one night of watching television to understand Italy’s talk-show crisis” was one of his tweets at the end of January.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 22, 2015

Have a bunch of Britishisms ready for when the American accent mockery starts: “I say, cheerio and bollocks to that, mate!”

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2015

This reminds me of being younger with Dad driving and me being in the back seat with the windows down and him thinking he was the bollocks singing along.

From The Guardian • Aug. 8, 2011

Miller apparently criticized Ian Poulter's ball-striking capabilities, prompting a Twitter response from Poulter, part of which was this: "He talks such bollocks at times." Dictionary.com defines bollocks as a British term for rubbish or nonsense.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 13, 2010