eyewash

[/ˈaɪwɑːʃ/]
nounpl: eyewashes
besteira, bobagem, mentira, lorota
1. nonsense; something said or written that is not true or is intended to deceive
The politician's speech was pure eyewash designed to trick voters.
O discurso do político era pura besteira designada para enganar os eleitores.
2. something unimportant or worthless
That movie was complete eyewash; I want my money back.
Aquele filme foi uma bobagem completa; quero meu dinheiro de volta.
3. a lotion for washing or medicating the eye (archaic/literal usage)
She applied eyewash to soothe her irritated eyes.
Ela aplicou colírio para acalmar seus olhos irritados.
In American English, 'eyewash' is a dated but still understood colloquialism meaning blatant lies or nonsense, often used to dismiss misleading claims or propaganda. In Brazil, equivalents like 'besteira' and 'lorota' are more commonly used in contemporary speech. The term became popular in the early 1900s, possibly derived from the idea of something being washed over or clouding one's vision (eyes).
NYC Slang
baloney, malarkey, bull, load of crap
Synonyms / Sinônimos
nonsenserubbishbalderdashhogwashbunkdrivelgibberishliesdeception
Antonyms / Antônimos
truthfactrealityhonesty

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
besteira, bobagem, lorota, conversa fiada
Most common usage; informal and colloquial
Rio de Janeiro
lorota, blablablá, papo furado
Carioca slang; very informal
São Paulo
besteira, conversa vazia, enrolação
Common in business/professional contexts to mean deception
Portugal
disparate, mentira, treta
European Portuguese equivalent; 'treta' is more colloquial

Related Words

deceivemisleadfabricatefalsehooddeceptivedishonestbluffhumbug

Related Idioms & Phrases

that's eyewash
pure eyewash
don't give me that eyewash
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