ballyhoo
[ noun bal-ee-hoo; verb bal-ee-hoo, bal-ee-hoo ]
/ noun ˈbæl iˌhu; verb ˈbæl iˌhu, ˌbæl iˈhu /
noun, plural bal·ly·hoos.
a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.
clamor or outcry.
a halfbeak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, inhabiting both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
verb (used with or without object), bal·ly·hooed, bal·ly·hoo·ing.
to advertise or push by ballyhoo.
Origin of ballyhoo
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; of uncertain origin
Words nearby ballyhoo
balls-up,
ballsy,
ballup,
ballwin,
bally,
ballyhoo,
ballymena,
ballymoney,
ballyrag,
balm,
balm of gilead
Example sentences from the Web for ballyhooed
British Dictionary definitions for ballyhooed
ballyhoo
/ (ˌbælɪˈhuː) /
noun informal
a noisy, confused, or nonsensical situation or uproar
sensational or blatant advertising or publicity
verb -hoos, -hooing or -hooed
(tr) mainly US
to advertise or publicize by sensational or blatant methods
Word Origin for ballyhoo
C19: of uncertain origin