hurly-burly

[ hur-lee-bur-lee, -bur- ]

noun

, plural hurl·y-burl·ies.

1. noisy disorder and confusion; commotion; uproar; tumult.

adjective

1. full of commotion; tumultuous.

hurly-burly

/ ˈhɜːlɪˈbɜːlɪ /

noun

1. confusion or commotion

adjective

1. turbulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurly-burly¹

1520–30; alteration of hurling ( and ) burling, rhyming phrase based on hurling in its (now obsolete) sense of tumult, uproar

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurly-burly¹

C16: from earlier hurling and burling, rhyming phrase based on hurling in obsolete sense of uproar

Example Sentences

And for Rylance, the hurly burly of theater — “a dance with the audience,” he calls it — has always most propelled him as an actor.

From Seattle Times

In among the hurly burly I am expecting from Leeds, enough of that Blues quality should shine through.

From BBC

As much as the hurly burly of the Coen brothers’ movies might seem distant from Shakespearean tragedy, their films are crowded with schemers seized by misguided ambitions — just usually more farcical ones.

From Seattle Times

I need to do that outside of the hurly burly of the regular office.

From Reuters

Children are taking 10 minutes out from the hurly burly school day to reflect on their thoughts and their feelings.

From The Guardian