stuff and nonsense

English edit

Noun edit

stuff and nonsense (uncountable)

rubbish, foolishness, poppycock
- 1859, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “The Bitter Waters Spread”, in Adam Bede […], volume III, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book fifth, page 99:
  "Stuff and nonsense!" said Bartle, forgetting in his irritation to whom he was speaking—"I beg your pardon, sir; I mean it's stuff and nonsense for the innocent to care about her being hanged. […]"
- 1865 November (indicated as 1866), Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Alice’s Evidence”, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 187:
  “It’s a pun!” the King added in an angry tone, and everybody laughed. ¶ “Let the jury consider their verdict,” the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. ¶ “No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” ¶ “Stuff and nonsense!” said Alice loudly. “The idea of having the sentence first!”
- 1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “Ashiepattle and the King’s Hares”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 177:
  "This is all stuff and nonsense," said the king; "I shall have to go myself, if we are to get this confounded whistle from him. […]"
- 1908 June, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “The Story Club is Formed”, in Anne of Green Gables, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, published August 1909 (11th printing), →OCLC, page 290:
  I wrote it last Monday evening. It's called 'The Jealous Rival; or, in Death Not Divided.' I read it to Marilla and she said it was stuff and nonsense. Then I read it to Matthew and he said it was fine. That is the kind of critic I like.
- 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Blurring of the Lines”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC, page 21:
  "Have you seen his letter in the Times?" I asked. / "What was it?" / "Stuff and nonsense!" said Summerlee, harshly. / "Well, it's at the bottom of this oxygen business, or I am mistaken," said I. / "Stuff and nonsense!" cried Summerlee again, with quite unnecessary violence.

Synonyms edit

See: Thesaurus:nonsense