hog-wash
Definition
- Noun:
- Nonsense or worthless talk: "hogwash" refers to ideas, statements, or writing that are foolish, meaningless, or of no value.
- Literally, swill fed to pigs: Historically, "hogwash" meant the liquid food scraps or refuse given to pigs (also called "slop").
Usage Examples
Nonsense or worthless talk:
- His explanation for being late was pure hogwash. (His excuse was completely untrue or silly.)
- Don't believe that article — it's total hogwash. (The article contains false or meaningless information.)
Literal meaning (less common):
- The farmer collected the leftover vegetables to make hogwash for the pigs. (He prepared pig food from scraps.)
Advanced Usage
"That's hogwash": An informal expression used to dismiss an idea as false or ridiculous.
- She said the project was impossible, but that's hogwash — we can do it. (Her claim is nonsense.)
"Pure hogwash": Emphasizes that something is entirely without merit or truth.
- The politician's promises were pure hogwash. (His promises were completely empty or deceptive.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hogwash (n) — no common variant forms; the word is used primarily as an uncountable noun.
- Hog (n): a pig, especially a domesticated one.
- The hog ate the hogwash eagerly. (The pig consumed the swill.)
Synonyms
- Nonsense: words or ideas that are foolish or lack meaning.
- Rubbish: something worthless or absurd.
- Balderdash: senseless talk or writing.
- Poppycock: informal term for nonsense.
Phrasal Verbs
- There are no common phrasal verbs formed with "hogwash." The word is a noun and does not combine with verbs to create phrasal verbs.
Related Idioms
"A load of hogwash": an idiom meaning a great deal of nonsense or lies.
- The report was a load of hogwash from start to finish. (The entire report was false or meaningless.)
"Talk hogwash": to speak in a foolish or deceptive manner.
- Stop talking hogwash and tell me the truth. (Stop saying foolish or untrue things.)