General
applesauce
What does applesauce mean?
A mild, almost cute substitute for a harsher curse of disbelief.
"Applesauce, the train's late again."
Origin
A 1920s American slang exclamation of disbelief, in the same family as 'baloney' and 'horsefeathers.' Cartoonist T.A. Dorgan is often credited with popularizing it in the press of the era.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'applesauce' mean in slang?
It's a 1920s way of calling something nonsense or flattery. Like shouting 'baloney!' when you don't buy a story.
Where did 'applesauce' come from?
From jazz-age American slang. It joined a cluster of food-based dismissals like baloney and was spread by newspaper cartoonists.
Why apples?
The food image is arbitrary, much like 'baloney.' The bland, mushy connotation made it a fitting word for empty talk.
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