ballyhoo

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word ballyhoo. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word ballyhoo, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say ballyhoo in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word ballyhoo you have here. The definition of the word ballyhoo will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofballyhoo, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Unknown. Probably an expressive gibberish word.

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

  1. Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
  2. Noisy shouting or uproar.
    • 1981, “Elephant Talk”, in Discipline, performed by King Crimson:
      Talk, it's only talk / Babble, burble, banter / Bicker, bicker, bicker / Brouhaha, balderdash, ballyhoo / It's only talk / Back talk
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

ballyhoo (third-person singular simple present ballyhoos, present participle ballyhooing, simple past and past participle ballyhooed)

  1. To sensationalize or make grand claims.
    • 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat (7 May):
      Industry has picked up, railroads are carrying more freight, farm prices are better, but I am not going to indulge in issuing proclamations of over-enthusiastic assurance. We cannot ballyhoo ourselves back to prosperity.
Translations

Etymology 2

From Spanish balajú.

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

  1. Certain species in family Hemiramphidae, inshore, surface-dwelling needlefish forming sizeable schools.
    1. Hemiramphus brasiliensis
Translations

Etymology 3

Possibly from Spanish balahú (schooner).

Noun

ballyhoo (plural ballyhoos)

  1. An unseaworthy or slovenly ship.

References