British English Slang – Codswallop.
Nonsense. This expression is usually directed towards someone who is talking – or writing – nonsense. Codswallop is often said to someone who is telling lies or talking rubbish. It is used to describe something that is considered ridiculous or untrue.
Codswallop is a fun and colourful expression that can be used to add a bit of humour to a conversation or to express frustration with someone’s ridiculous ideas or claims.
Where Does “Codswallop” Come From?
Nobody knows for certain, but the most popular story links it to Hiram Codd, a 19th-century inventor who designed a bottle for fizzy soft drinks. “Wallop” was old slang for beer, so “Codd’s wallop” may originally have meant weak, watery drink not worth the name — and, by extension, worthless nonsense. It’s a great story, even if etymologists can’t fully confirm it.
Similar Expressions To Codswallop Include:
- balderdash
- baloney
- claptrap
- cobbler’s
- hogwash
- piffle
- poppycock
- rubbish
- twaddle
Related Idioms:
- Pull a fast one (idiom) – To engage in a deceitful practice or play an unfair trick.
- Smell a rat (idiom) – To suspect that something is wrong or that something dishonest is happening.
- Smells fishy (idiom) – This expression is used when something is making you suspicious.
- Take something with a pinch of salt (idiom) – To listen to a story or explanation of something with reasonable doubt.
Example:
- “The dog ate your homework again? I’ve never heard such codswallop!”
Learn More
Look it upWiktionary – codswallop: a well-known reference confirming just how established this colourful word has become in everyday British English.WiktionaryListen:
What is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nonsense or rubbish — usually said about something someone claims that is clearly untrue or ridiculous.
No — it’s a mild, old-fashioned, and rather charming way to call something nonsense, safe to use in most polite conversation.
Its exact origin is disputed. A popular (though unproven) theory links it to Hiram Codd, a 19th-century inventor of a fizzy-drink bottle, with “wallop” being old slang for beer — implying watery, inferior drink, and by extension, nonsense.
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