cockamamie

cockamamie
/kok"euh may'mee/, adj. Slang.
ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical: full of wild schemes and cockamamie ideas.
Also, cockamamy.
[‡1940-45, Amer.; in orig. sense, paper strip with an image which could be transferred to the skin when moistened, appar. alter. of DECALCOMANIA; sense "ridiculous" prob. by assoc. with COCK-AND-BULL STORY, POPPYCOCK, etc.]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • cockamamie — Amer.Eng. slang word attested by 1946, popularized c.1960, but said to be New York City children s slang from mid 1920s; perhaps an alteration of decalcomania (see DECAL (Cf. decal)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • cockamamie — ☆ cockamamie [käk′ə mā΄mē ] adj. [alteration of DECALCOMANIA, prob. infl. by cock a nee nee, 19th c. name in New York for a cheap molasses candy] Slang 1. of poor quality; inferior 2. silly; ridiculous …   English World dictionary

  • Cockamamie — This article is about the Jen Trynin album. For other uses, see Decalcomania. Cockamamie Studio album by Jen Trynin …   Wikipedia

  • cockamamie — cock|a|ma|mie [ˌkɔkəˈmeımi US ˌka:k ] adj AmE informal [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Probably from decalcomania] a cockamamie story or excuse is not believable or does not make sense ▪ What cockamamie idea will he think up next? …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • cockamamie — adjective AmE informal a cockamamie story or excuse is not believable or does not make sense: What cockamamie idea will he think up next? …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • cockamamie — [“kakamemi] mod. ridiculous; inconceivable. □ What a cockamamie idea! □ That is the most cockamamie thing I ever heard of …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • cockamamie — adjective a) foolish, silly Do not give any more cockamamie reasons for failing to complete your assignment. b) trifling Syn: goofy, sappy …   Wiktionary

  • cockamamie — cock|a|ma|mie [ kakə,meımi ] adjective AMERICAN INFORMAL silly or impossible to understand: a cockamamie idea/story …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cockamamie — cock•a•ma•mie or cock•a•ma•my [[t]ˈkɒk əˌmeɪ mi[/t]] adj. Slang. cvb sts ridiculous; nonsensical: cockamamie ideas[/ex] • Etymology: 1940–45, amer.; alter. of decalcomania …   From formal English to slang

  • cockamamie — adjective ludicrous, foolish gave me a cockamamie reason for not going wore a goofy hat a silly idea some wacky plan for selling more books • Syn: ↑cockamamy, ↑goofy, ↑sappy, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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