baloney

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "baloney" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is not true or that is nonsense, usually following an exaggeration. For example: "He said he could fix the problem in minutes, but that's just baloney!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I get all this baloney about well, what does he do?

The Guardian - Books

The medicinal-marijuana and needle-exchange issues have nothing to do with drug enforcement and interdiction; they are, in Mr Weld's phrase, "complete phoney baloney".So assume, as most of Mr Helms's fellow Republicans do, that there is more to this than drugs.

The Economist

This is baloney, not because there is no control but because forgiveness implies guilt, and many Chinese (as well as many Russians) do not find fault with their "controlling" regime to begin with.

The Economist

Many Congolese think this is self-serving baloney.

The Economist

Mr Romney called that "baloney" and declared that he would give Michigan the help it needed.

The Economist

And of course, there are always the poor: should they be exposed to marketing baloney that may persuade them to spend money on empty promises to stop time's hand?Only in the case of the young are there grounds for special intervention although parental responsibility ought really to do the job.

The Economist

Janet thinks Mr Salmond's promises are baloney: "I don't trust him as far as I could throw him .Jimmy is in a minority in the ex-servicemen's club, but he may not be in Rosyth at large.

The Economist

See articlePresident George Bush, on a five-country trip to Africa, described as "baloney" the notion that he was seeking bases for Africom, an American military command for Africa announced a year ago.

The Economist

Hundreds more are awaiting approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (which, worryingly, cannot provide a precise number).As they expand, providers are pushing into new areas and, as BGI's Matt Scanlan puts it, "slicing the baloney thinner".

The Economist

He scored the odd zinger, for example by calling on Mr Romney to drop "the pious baloney" when the perpetual campaigner tried during one debate to claim that he had never seen politics as a full-time career.

The Economist

That's baloney, too.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "baloney" to express strong disagreement or to dismiss something you find untrue or nonsensical, but be mindful of your audience due to its informal nature.

Common error

Avoid using "baloney" in formal writing or professional communications. Opt for more appropriate alternatives like "inaccurate", "untrue", or "misleading" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "baloney" is as a noun, often used as an interjection to express disbelief or to dismiss a statement as untrue. As evidenced by Ludwig, it commonly replaces saying something is ""nonsense"".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Baloney" is a common and informal noun used to express disbelief or to dismiss something as utter nonsense. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and predominantly found in news and media sources. While it effectively conveys strong disagreement, it's best reserved for informal settings. For formal contexts, alternatives such as "inaccurate" or "misleading" are more suitable. Remember to consider your audience and the formality of the setting when choosing whether to use "baloney".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nonsense

A general term for something considered foolish or untrue.

rubbish

Similar to nonsense, but can also imply something is of poor quality.

hogwash

An informal way to dismiss something as ridiculous or untrue.

bull

A more direct and forceful way to express disbelief or call something untrue.

crap

A vulgar term for something considered worthless or untrue.

bullshit

Another vulgar term for nonsense, often used to express strong disbelief.

poppycock

An old-fashioned term for nonsense.

tosh

British slang for nonsense.

cock-and-bull story

An elaborate and unbelievable story.

a pack of lies

Indicates that something is completely untrue.

FAQs

How can I use "baloney" in a sentence?

"Baloney" is typically used informally to dismiss something as untrue or nonsensical. For example, "That explanation is just a bunch of "nonsense"!"

What's a less informal way to say "baloney"?

If you need a more formal alternative, consider using phrases like "that's not true", "that's incorrect", or "that's misleading" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "baloney" in business communications?

Generally, no. "Baloney" is considered informal and might not be suitable for professional settings. Opt for more neutral and professional language.

What is the difference between "baloney" and "bologna"?

"Baloney" is a word to define nonsense, while "bologna" is a type of sausage. Although "baloney" is sometimes used as an alternative spelling for the sausage "bologna", it's primarily known for its meaning of 'nonsense'.