claptrap
8
9.1
- noun
- /ˈklæpˌtræp/
:
palabrería vacía
- He dismissed the politician's speech as nothing more than claptrap designed to gain votes.
- liberal claptrap
- superstitious claptrap
- a lot of claptrap
They start talking their usual grandiose claptrap, and you find yourself nodding, eyes wide.
- They start talking their usual grandiose claptrap, and you find yourself nodding, eyes wide.
Examples
-
The article was filled with claptrap that had no basis in fact or logic.
-
I can't believe you fell for that claptrap; it was clearly just a gimmick to sell more books.
-
Put a stop to this claptrap, once and for all.
-
Save your claptrap for the judge, Silver!
-
Perhaps he could put up with your claptrap better than I can.
-
At least someone sees it for the dangerous claptrap that it is.
Blog text (29) -
"A load of commercial claptrap," he said.
Fiction book (1999) -
What conservatives need to do is stop listening to the claptrap of the left.
Blog text (9) -
Now, if you must leave, please do so, but spare me any more of your sanctimonious claptrap.
-
Let's cut through all of the claptrap and distill American foreign policy down to its essence.
Blog text (18)
Synonyms
265
7.0
Words that sound impressive but have little real meaning
13
9.5
Talk that uses confusing psychology words without real meaning
5
9.3
Words or ideas that sound important but have little real meaning
4
9.4
Speech or writing that uses large, showy words but has little real meaning
2
8.3
Claims that exaggerate product benefits and are not meant literally
Language that tries to sound important but has little meaning
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Etymology
Claptrap comes from the theatre, where clap means 'applause' and trap means 'a trick', so it was a trick to get cheers. That's why claptrap now means showy or fake talk meant to impress but with no real meaning.