What it means
A tidy way to call something total nonsense or made-up rubbish. It sounds a bit old-fashioned and slightly posh, which makes it even funnier when you drop it in an argument. The origin’s not nailed down, but people link it to wallop meaning cheap booze and cod meaning fake. Use it when someone’s chatting absolute fantasy.
Usage examples
"He reckons he used to play pro football. Mate, that’s codswallop. Saw him at five-a-side last week, he couldn’t hit a barn door."
"He insists he once turned down a record deal, but that is complete codswallop, the man cannot hold a tune in a bucket."
Where it comes from
Origin debated, often tied to wallop for cheap beer and cod for fake, the two stacked into a word for pure nonsense. Its mock-posh ring makes it land even better in an argument.
Other ways to say it
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