English

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɒ.ləks/
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Noun, verb
    Audio (UK):(file)
  • Interjection
    Audio (UK):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒləks

Etymology 1

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From Middle English ballokes (plural of ballok), from Old English beallucas (nominative plural of bealluc). By surface analysis, bollock +‎ -s. Compare cullion.

Noun

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bollocks pl (normally plural, singular bollock)

  1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar) The testicles (sometimes used in the singular)
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:testicles
  2. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar) Nonsense or information deliberately intended to mislead.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:nonsense
    That's a load of bollocks, mate!
    • 2014, Peter Smith, Confessions of a Dice Dealer, page 105:
      All the dealers would steam into his cabin for a few sherbets after work, and to listen to his bollocks.
  3. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, used as singular) An idiot, an ignorant or disagreeable person.
    Don't mind him; he's only an oul' bollocks!
  4. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar) Ellipsis of the dog's bollocks.
Alternative forms
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Derived terms
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Translations
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Verb

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bollocks (third-person singular simple present bollockses, present participle bollocksing, simple past and past participle bollocksed)

  1. (transitive, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) To break.
    The telly's bollocksed.
  2. (transitive, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) (also bollocks up) To fail (a task); to make a mess of.
    I bollocksed that exam.
Translations
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Interjection

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bollocks

  1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) An expression of anger, frustration, etc.
    Oh bollocks, I'm late for work!
  2. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) An expression of incredulity.
    Bollocks! That never happened!
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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See bollock

Verb

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bollocks

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of bollock