razzle-dazzlen.adj.
/ˈrazlˌdazl/, /ˌrazlˈdazl/, U.S. /ˈræz(ə)lˌdæz(ə)l/, /ˌræz(ə)lˈdæz(ə)l/ colloquial (originally U.S.)
A. n.
1.
a. Commotion, bustle; vigorous, energetic, or elaborate action, esp. of a sort which dazzles, distracts, or causes confusion; (hence) deception; an instance of this. In to give the razzle-dazzle: to confuse or distract by showy action. Also in to get the razzle-dazzle: to be confused or distracted by such action. Cf. razzmatazz n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > [noun]
fever1340
motiona1398
quotidian?a1439
rufflea1535
commotion1581
fret1582
hurry1600
puddering1603
tumultuousnessa1617
trepidation1625
feverishness1638
boilingc1660
fermentationc1660
tumult1663
ferment1672
stickle1681
fuss1705
whirl1707
flurry1710
sweat1715
fluster1728
pucker1740
flutter1741
flustration1747
flutteration1753
tremor1753
swithera1768
twitteration1775
state1781
stew1806
scrow1808
tumultuating1815
flurrification1822
tew1825
purr1842
pirr1856
tête montée1859
go1866
faff1874
poultry flutter1876
palaver1878
thirl1879
razzle-dazzle1885
nervism1887
flurry-scurry1888
fikiness1889
foment1889
dither1891
swivet1892
flusterment1895
tither1896
overwroughtness1923
mania1925
stumer1932
tizzy1935
two and eight1938
snit1939
tizz1953
tiswas1960
wahala1966
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss
to-doc1330
adoc1380
great (also much) cry and little woolc1460
feery-fary1535
fray1568
stirc1595
do1598
coil1599
hurl1603
ruffle1609
clutterment1611
buzz1628
bustle1637
paddle1642
racket1644
clutter1652
tracas1656
tracasserie1656
circumference1667
flutter1667
hurly-burly1678
fuss1701
fissle1719
fraise1725
hurry-scurry1753
fix-fax1768
fal-lal1775
widdle1789
touse1792
fuffle1801
going-on1817
hurry and scurry1823
sputter1823
tew1825
Bob's-a-dying1829
fidge1832
tamasha1842
mulling1845
mussing1846
fettling1847
fooster1847
trade1854
scrimmage1855
carry-on1861
fuss-and-feathers1866
on-carry1870
make-a-do1880
miration1883
razzle-dazzle1885
song and dance1885
to get a rustle on1891
tea-party1903
stirabout1905
whoop-de-do1910
chichi1928
production1941
go-go1966
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > [noun]
falsec1000
fraudc1330
barrat1340
faitery1377
defraudc1450
trumpery1481
covin1487
defraudationc1503
knavery1528
conveyance1531
imposture1537
defrauding1548
cozenage1583
impostry1585
catch-dolt1592
gullery1598
coggery1602
gullage1607
charlatism1611
impostury1615
quacksalvery1617
mountebankery1618
imposition1632
imposturisma1634
blaflum1637
charlatanry1638
defraudment1645
mountebankism1649
impostorya1652
impostorism1652
imposturage1654
impostery1656
mountebank1657
imposing1659
quackery1675
quackism1722
empiricism1774
cross1802
charlatanism1804
practitionery1818
cozenry1829
humbuggery1831
trick1833
thimble-shift1834
thimble-shifting1834
thimbleriggery1841
humbuggism1842
quackhood1843
quacksalverism1864
razzle-dazzle1928
spivery1948
shuck1958
shucking and jiving1969
1885 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Jrnl. 26 May When a man has got the razzle-dazzle he acts very much like a disappointed democratic office-seeker.
1885 Daily Democratic Times (Lima, Ohio) 14 Dec. 3/4 Three brothers..were arraigned..on a charge of black-mailing Joseph Selby out of $600 with crooked contracts,..as the evidence showed they had given Selby the razzle-dazzle for $300 in cash and a team of horses.
1892 R. Kipling & W. Balestier Naulahka ix. 89 There isn't enough real, old-fashioned downright rustle and razzle-dazzle..to run a milk-cart.
1928 New Yorker 15 Dec. 24/1 Suspecting some sort of razzle-dazzle, the wiser of the two men said he would buy the seats at their box-office value.
1948 Washington Post 7 Nov. iii. 1/4 Michigan's fancy football carriers bolting out of their razzle-dazzle behind the scrimmage line, raced to a satisfactory 35–0 victory over forlorn Navy today.
1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed vii. 51 The razzle-dazzle I had handed the two drug-ring musclemen.
1977 Time (Atlantic ed.) 19 Sept. 25/1 Lance ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, using the financial razzle-dazzle that later was to become such a liability.
2004 Philadelphia Tribune 31 Aug. 1 c There was no razzle-dazzle. There were no spectacular plays. There were no fancy shots. It was just good, fundamental basketball.
b. Glamour or glamorous excitement; a spectacular, showy, or ostentatious display.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > riotous excitement > [noun]
hoigh1576
rooty-toot1852
rampage1860
razzle-dazzle1888
1888 Bismark (Dakota Territory) Daily Tribune 19 Aug. June 1/3 All the fire and dynamite, stage thunder and panorama lightning, sky rockets and red fire will be cherished and preserved until November 5th when it will explode and radiate, ignite and illuminate, vivify and paralyze with one magnificent razzle-dazzle and wild stentorial whoop!
1930 Los Angeles Times 26 Sept. 7/1 Testing the capacity of the sound screen for spectacular..razzle-dazzle, Cecil B. DeMille's ‘Madam Satan’ opened yesterday at the Criterion Theater.
1969 New Yorker 29 Nov. 47/1 I want models, I want a private plane, I want this, I want that, I want some razzle-dazzle.
1978 N.Y. Mag. 3 Apr. 17/3 It [sc. a musical] has pizzazz and razzle-dazzle, bursts of energy and invention, music and laughter.
2006 Tatler Aug. 108/1 Sir Elton and Lady J always add razzle-dazzle, from Windsor to Wembley.
c. Chiefly British. A boisterous or wildly riotous outing or celebration; a spree; = razzle n. 2. Frequently in on the razzle-dazzle.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > [noun] > noisy or riotous
revela1375
riotc1440
revel-rout1587
wassail1603
randan1640
rant1650
high-go1774
splore?a1786
gilravagea1796
spree1804
lark1811
spray1813
shindy1821
randy1825
randy-dandy1835
batter1839
flare-up1844
barney1850
jamboree1868
tear1869
whoop-up1876
beano1888
razzle1892
razzle-dazzle1893
bash1901
1893 A. Hennequin Three Hats i. 5 You'd been out on the ‘razzle-dazzle’ last night.
1909 J. Galsworthy Silver Box ii. i. 39 in Plays I see that young calf, his son, swellin' it about, and goin' on the razzle-dazzle.
1917 A. B. Paterson Saltbush Bill 49 I have been on the razzle-dazzle Full many a time since then But I never could get the chemist To brew me that drink again.
1944 P. Boardman Patrick Geddes ii. 29 Fancy old Pat going off for the razzle-dazzle. I always thought he was too serious for that.
2006 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 30 Apr. As soon as she began to snore, he slipped out of their apartment, and went on the razzle-dazzle.
2. A fairground ride resembling a merry-go-round or carousel which spins rapidly and also tilts from side to side. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > fairground or amusement park > [noun] > fairground ride > merry-go-round
carousel1673
whimsic chair?c1684
whimsy1684
merry-go-round1729
roundabout1763
turnabout1789
whirligig1816
spin-'em-round1851
go-round1857
whirly-go-round1865
merry-go-around1873
giddy-go-round1879
go-around1888
razzle-dazzle1890
joy-wheel1911
chairoplane1922
whip1925
Noah's Ark1945
waltzer1961
swirl1962
1890 New Era (Humeston, Iowa) 17 Sept. The excursion house, just outside the city limits, is a popular resort for all day excursionists. Roller coasters, razzle dazzles, scenic railways etc. lend their aid to a day's enjoyment.
1896 Gentleman's Mag. 280 126 The effect on the infamous road we travelled was a combination of the switchback railway and ‘razzle-dazzle’.
1935 Amer. Mercury June 230/2 Razzle-dazzle..used by the public in reference to carnival rides, although not so used by carnies themselves.
1968 D. Braithwaite Fairground Archit. iii. 34 The steam swing and ‘Razzle Dazzle’ drew inspiration from mechanisms in the spinning frame, [etc.].
1994 Times (Nexis) 6 Aug. Something called a Razzle Dazzle: this is a noble beast of a merry-go-round from the turn of the century, working mainly on the principle of gloss-painted seating and centrifugal force.
B. adj.
Of or characterized by razzle-dazzle; dazzling; spectacular; glamorous; (also) deceptive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > spectacular, sensational, or dramatic display > [adjective]
theatric1656
spectacular1682
theatrical1709
dramatic1726
sensationary1755
pyrotechnical1825
grandstand1835
pyrotechnic1848
sensational1859
razzle-dazzle1888
whizz-bang1919
glitzy1966
1888 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Republican 31 Jan. One of the leading sports of Champaign, was in the city last night trying to get Pitcher Smith and Phonse Conley to give Decatur the ‘razzle-dazzle deal’ and then come over to Champaign to play ball there next season.
1935 Los Angeles Times 14 Sept. ii. 8/7 First scrimmaging of the football season is on for Coach Bill Anderson's Occidental Tigers this afternoon when he gives his new ‘razzle dazzle’ offense its first taste of fire.
1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 10/2 The newsreel is provided with a razzle-dazzle accompaniment.
1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 13 Oct. c. 12/6 Freshman halfback Pat Healy scored three touchdowns, the last on a razzle-dazzle 32-yard pass from quarterback Bruce Basile.
1992 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 14 June 14/3 Lynna Williams's stories are low on affectation and gimmickry. There is no razzle-dazzle prose, no stylistic acrobatics.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
razzle-dazzlev.
/ˈrazlˌdazl/, /ˌrazlˈdazl/, U.S. /ˈræz(ə)lˌdæz(ə)l/, /ˌræz(ə)lˈdæz(ə)l/ colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.).
transitive. To dazzle, daze, confuse; (also) to bamboozle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > affect with pleasurable excitement [verb (transitive)] > give thrill of pleasurable excitement to
dirl1513
slay1863
razzle-dazzle1886
to turn on1903
panic1920
wow1924
kill1938
to knock out1942
fracture1946
gas1947
stoke1963
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > cause wonder, astonish [verb (transitive)] > stupefy
awhapec1300
stonyc1330
astony1340
astonec1374
mazec1390
stounda1400
stuna1400
to-stony?a1400
stounc1400
clumsec1440
overmusec1460
stonish1488
strike1533
dazzle1561
stoyne1563
stupefy1577
stupefact1583
obstupefy1611
astound1637
petrify1667
flabbergast1773
stagnatea1798
stama1800
swarf1813
boggle1835
razzle-dazzle1886
to knock sideways1890
stupend1900
gobsmack1987
1886 Cincinnati (Ohio) Enquirer 19 Jan. 4/5 A gray-bearded little man..informed him that he had been burkoed out of $15, all the money he had in the world,..and in answer to an inquiry from the Chief as to how it occurred he told the same old story of having been ‘razzle-dazzled’.
1888 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Republican 25 May 3/5 Our ball tossers are doing pretty well of late, but it is bad business for the manager to try to razzle-dazzle Smith by charging him with stupid base running.
1890 A. C. Gunter Miss Nobody xiv I'm going to razzle-dazzle the boys..with my great lightning change act.
1917 W. Churchill Dwelling-place of Light xiii. 277 He had me razzle-dazzled.
1976 Houston Chron. 22 Sept. 7–4/4 Lady Bird eats it in an orange print pants suit and that Texas smile that razzle-dazzles 'em.
1986 Family Circle May 97/1 Razzle dazzle 'em. Vamp up the most basic of household bits and bobs to create the latest look in jazzy buckles, badges and bangles.
1997 N.Y. Mag. 3 Nov. 119/1 Judi Connelli—The Australian cabaret sensation, who razzle-dazzled New Yorkers with her concerts at Town Hall last spring, 10/30–10/31 at 8 P.M.
Derivatives
ˌrazzle-ˈdazzler n. a person who or thing which dazzles.
ΚΠ
1889 Salem (Ohio) Daily News 3 Aug. 3/5 (advt.) Our Bargain Counter..is rich with custom-made hard-hitting bargains, which will be a regular Razzle Dazzler for our customers.
1897 Daily News 10 Aug. 5/2 Two dozen pair of plain socks and half a dozen pair of the sort known as ‘razzle-dazzlers’.
1964 Times 29 May 4/5 Bobby Charlton, subbing for George Eastham, who had been the chief razzle-dazzler in the forward line until his injury, scored with a grand duster at 67 minutes.
2002 Time Out 2 Jan. 77/2 The new year swings in with a real razzle-dazzler from Mira Nair in the shape of ‘Monsoon Wedding’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1885
v.1886