noun
malarkey
muh-LAH-kee
noun
1
Nonsense; empty or foolish talk.
"Don't give me that malarkey about the dog eating your homework."
"The politician's promises were dismissed as pure malarkey."
How to Use Malarkey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal, slightly old-fashioned word for nonsense or baloney.
When to use it
Informal and somewhat dated, often used humorously.
Common pairings
a bunch of malarkey
pure malarkey
Word Forms
malarkeys plural, Malarkeys plural
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Etymology
Of uncertain origin, popularized in American newspaper cartoons in the 1920s; possibly linked to an Irish surname or a Greek word for soft or flabby talk.