humbug
/ˈhʌmbʌɡ
/noun
1 [mass noun] Deceptive or false talk or behaviour: his comments are sheer humbug...
- It would be humbug to pretend that authors at literary festivals have their minds on higher things than selling books.
- This obesity debate is full of humbug and denial.
- He said: ‘It's definitely a case of humbug on the council's part.’
Synonyms
hypocrisy, hypocritical talk/behaviour, sanctimoniousness, posturing, cant, empty talk;
insincerity, dishonesty, falseness, falsity, sham, deceit, deception, deceptiveness, imposture, pretence;
fraud, trickery, cheating
informal phoneyness, con, kidology
Irish informal codology
rare Tartufferie
1.1 [count noun] A hypocrite: you see what a humbug I am...
- Our mean-minded monarchists really are a bunch of humourless humbugs.
- Is he a journalist for whom the principles of his profession override everything else, or is he a complete humbug who has lied to protect a source of information for a story which led to him winning an award for journalism?
- He shows no signs of worry that the company he keeps may mark him as a stonking humbug.
Synonyms
hypocrite, hypocritical person, plaster saint, whited sepulchre;
charlatan, impostor, fraud, cheat, deceiver, dissembler, fake, sham
informal conman, con artist, phoney
rare Tartuffe
2British A boiled sweet, especially one flavoured with peppermint.The best buys include coffee beans, chocolate, mint humbugs and, of course, clotted cream shortbread....
- Pulled candy can be made from a plain sugar syrup, as in humbugs.
- With coffee and humbugs, lunch tends to drift well into tea-time.
verb (humbugs, humbugging, humbugged) [with object]
1Deceive; trick: poor Dave is easily humbugged...
- Bad information and bad guesses occasionally humbugged both, which they overcame by determination and the fighting qualities of their forces.
Synonyms
deceive, trick, delude, mislead, fool, hoodwink, dupe, hoax, take in, beguile, bamboozle, gull, cheat
informal con, kid, put one over on, have on, pull the wool over someone's eyes
vulgar slang bullshit
archaic cozen
1.1 [no object] dated Act like a fraud: she was always ready to help him, provided he didn’t humbug
Phrases
bah humbug!
Derivatives
humbuggery
/ noun ...- It takes a vicious swipe at the humbuggery that has taken over modern politics, and the continuing double-standards applying to men and women in public office.
- His response to all this humbuggery has been to suggest a spontaneous uprising among the oppressed Christians of America.
- All scientists have a bit of humbuggery about them don't you think.
Origin
Mid 18th century (in the senses 'hoax, trick' and 'deceiver'): of unknown origin.