cobblers

/ ˈkɒbləz /

plural noun

1. rubbish; nonsense

   a load of old cobblers

2. another word for testicles See testicle

interjection

1. an exclamation of strong disagreement

Usage

The use of cobblers meaning "nonsense" is so mild that hardly anyone these days is likely to be offended by it. Most people are probably unaware of its rhyming-slang association with ``balls'', and therefore take it at its face value as a more colourful synonym for ``nonsense''. The classic formulation "a load of (old) cobblers" seems to be particularly popular in the tabloid press

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobblers¹

C20: from rhyming slang cobblers' awls balls

Example Sentences

One of these yellow-skinned cobblers will make a pair of Vel-Schoenen in less than a couple of hours.

From Project Gutenberg

The children and cobblers and shop-keepers buying with the yellow gold the "thousand years old names!"

From Project Gutenberg

Yonder lies the district called the 'Forêt Noire'--a land of unpleasing atmosphere inhabited by cobblers and clothes-menders.

From Project Gutenberg

Only those who toil in the forests don the uncouth boots turned out by the firm of cobblers known as Block & Nicklestick.

From Project Gutenberg

Young America sipping cobblers, and roving about in very loose and immoral coats, voted it "a case."

From Project Gutenberg