{"id":5174,"date":"2022-07-20T22:17:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T22:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=5174"},"modified":"2022-07-20T22:18:47","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T22:18:47","slug":"codswallop-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/codswallop-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Codswallop \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have ever felt like you are being lied to, deceived, or are hearing some nonsense, then I may have a phrase for you. Despite its whimsical-sounding name, this phrase cuts through what is untrue and calls it out with authority. The phrase codswallop calls out words or ideas for being silly, foolish, or an outright lie.<\/p>\n

Today we will outline what codswallop means, its origin, some phrases akin to and opposite of it, and proper usage of the phrase. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h1>\n

The phrase codswallop means an idea, writing, or speech that is considered to be senseless\/nonsense. It draws a negative light on what it is being used in place of, largely because it attempts to describe something as ridiculous. <\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be used as a rebuttal, such as simply saying the phrase \u201ccodswallop\u201d as if it were the word nonsense, or it can be used in a sentence with the meaning shown above.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another way that codswallop can be used is to describe something as worthless or trash. Though this meaning of codswallop is used less as a one-word rebuttal than its senseless meaning, it also carries a very negative connotation.<\/p>\n

Whichever context it is used in, the word codswallop is viewed as a unique phrase that persists with adverse meaning. The subjects described by codswallop should be sub-par and undesirable to properly achieve the negative meaning ascribed to them. More information can be found in the video (here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h1>\n

\u201cTell me the truth and stop talking codswallop\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything that just came out of your mouth is pure codswallop\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is full of codswallop, literally nothing he says is based on facts\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cForget about rubbish, your ideas are worse than fantasy, they are codswallop\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat movie was a load of codswallop, so we just left\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe prime minister spews nothing but codswallop when it comes to important issues\u201d.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the phrase codswallop is largely up for debate. Many believe that the phrase has relation to Hiram Codd, a man who made a process for bottling soft drinks and lemonade in the 1870s. In Codd\u2019s process, a glass bottle was shaken with a stopper in the neck causing the pressure in the bottle to form a seal for his soft drinks. Furthermore, wallop is a term for beer. Beer drinkers may have termed watered down and weak beer as Codd\u2019s wallop to state it was too similar to a soft drink to be a beer. However, this account can be contested as the term codswallop was not recorded until the late 1950s, quite a long time after the Codd\u2019s bottling process was at the height of its relevance.<\/p>\n

Another potential explanation was the use of the word cod. It was used in Northern England to represent a scam, illusion, or hoax. Along with the former explanation for the watered-down or weak beer, this pairing of \u201ccod\u201d and \u201cwallop\u201d make a combination meaning a beer that is a scam. Regardless of the origin, the term codswallop appeared to pick up recognition in the late 1950s and continues to be used in decades since.<\/p>\n

Phrases Similar to Codswallop<\/h1>\n
    \n
  • Poppycock<\/li>\n
  • Fiddle-faddle<\/li>\n
  • Bull-crap\/BS<\/li>\n
  • Balderdash<\/li>\n
  • Rubbish<\/li>\n
  • Tomfoolery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Phrases opposite to Codswallop<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Levelheaded<\/li>\n
    • Horse sense<\/li>\n
    • Wise as a serpent<\/li>\n
    • Really sharp<\/li>\n
    • Smart cookie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What is The Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • Codswallop<\/li>\n
      • Historically- Codd\u2019s Wallop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Ways People May Incorrectly Say Codswallop<\/h1>\n
          \n
        • Cod swallow up<\/li>\n
        • Caught wallop<\/li>\n
        • Caught up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Acceptable Ways to Phrase Codswallop<\/h2>\n
            \n
          • In my opinion, that entire report is nothing but a load of codswallop.<\/li>\n
          • It\u2019s all just codswallop in my view.<\/li>\n
          • Tom and I both agree that it\u2019s a right load of codswallop, it is.<\/li>\n
          • I have only ever heard sparkly codswallop from you mate.<\/li>\n
          • That color combination is pure codswallop Julia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            If you have ever felt like you are being lied to, deceived, or are hearing some nonsense, then I may have a phrase for you. Despite its whimsical-sounding name, this phrase cuts through what is untrue and calls it out with authority. The phrase codswallop calls out words or ideas for being silly, foolish, or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5174"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5483,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5174\/revisions\/5483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}