English

Noun

ballyhoo ‎(plural ballyhoos)

1. Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
2. Noisy shouting or uproar.

Translations

Verb

ballyhoo ‎(third-person singular simple present ballyhoos, present participle ballyhooing, simple past and past participle ballyhooed)

1. To sensationalise or make grand claims.
   • 1933 — Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat (7 May)

     Industry has picked up, railroads are carrying more freight, farm prices are better, but I am not going to indulge in issuing proclamations of over-enthusiastic assurance. We cannot ballyhoo ourselves back to prosperity.

Translations

Related terms

• ballyhooed adj

Etymology 2

Spanish balajú

Noun

ballyhoo ‎(plural ballyhoos)

1. Hemiramphus brasiliensis, an inshore, surface-dwelling species of needlefish forming sizeable schools.

Translations

Etymology 3

Possibly from Spanish balahu ‎(“schooner”).

Noun

ballyhoo ‎(plural ballyhoos)

1. An unseaworthy or slovenly ship.

References

• "Ballyhoo" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.