foofaraw
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFirst attested in the 1930s, of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to French fanfaron (“boasting”).
Pronunciation
editNoun
editfoofaraw (plural foofaraws) (informal)
- Overly excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration.
- 1944, Time, volume 44, page 15:
- The thumping bands, the badges, the pretty girls and all the time-honored foofaraw failed to charge up the Republican batteries to the sparking point. The great engine just would not turn over — at the start.
- 2013 October 13, Erik Adams, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Lisa’s Wedding” (season six, episode 19; originally aired 3/19/1995)”, in The Onion AV Club[1]:
- Yes, there’s a romance at the center of the episode, though it’s just as much of a red herring as the layers of futuristic foofaraw.
- Fuss over something of little importance.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:commotion
Further reading
edit- “foofaraw”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.