humbug
/ˈhʌmˌbʌɡ/
verb
- To deceive or trick someone by saying or doing something dishonest.
- He tried to humbug his boss into believing he had finished the project.
- The con artist humbugged the elderly couple out of their savings.
- Don't let smooth talkers humbug you into buying useless products.
noun
- Something that is dishonest, false, or meant to trick people; nonsense or deception.
- The advertisement was full of humbug, promising results that were impossible.
- Don't listen to his claims about the magic potion; it's all humbug.
- Historians later proved that the so-called ancient artifact was a complete humbug.
- A person who pretends to be something they are not, especially someone who deceives others.
- My grandfather called the politician a humbug for breaking all his promises.
- She realized the self-help guru was a humbug when his advice made things worse.
- The fortune teller turned out to be a humbug who just wanted people's money.
- A hard candy, often striped, flavored with mint or licorice.
- The children loved the black-and-white striped humbugs at the fair.
- He offered me a humbug from the jar on his desk.
- The old candy shop sold traditional humbugs wrapped in wax paper.
interjection
- Used to express disbelief, annoyance, or that something is nonsense.
- When the salesman gave his pitch, the farmer just muttered, "Humbug!"
- "Humbug!" she said, rolling her eyes at the ridiculous rumor.
- "Humbug!" cried Scrooge when his nephew wished him a Merry Christmas.