Cockamamie: meaning, definitions and examples

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cockamamie

 

[หŒkษ’kษ™หˆmeษชmi ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

informal

Absurd; ridiculous; nonsensical.

Synonyms

absurd, nonsensical, ridiculous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
cockamamie

Informal and somewhat humorous contexts, often to describe an idea or plan that is silly or implausible.

  • That is a cockamamie excuse for being late!
  • Who came up with this cockamamie scheme?
absurd

Used in both formal and informal settings to emphasize something that defies logic or reason.

  • The idea of flying pigs is absurd.
  • Her explanation was so absurd that no one believed her.
ridiculous

Commonly used in everyday language to indicate that something is laughably unreasonable or foolish.

  • The prices at that store are ridiculous.
  • She looked ridiculous trying to dance in high heels.
nonsensical

Describes speech, writing, or ideas that lack sense or meaning, can sound more formal.

  • The report was filled with nonsensical jargon.
  • He gave a nonsensical answer to a straightforward question.

Examples of usage

  • That's a cockamamie idea!
  • Don't listen to his cockamamie theories.
  • The whole plan seems a bit cockamamie to me.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word is believed to have originated in the United States in the 1950s.
  • It may come from a child's word for a made-up thing, linking to how children create funny names.
  • Another theory links it to 'cocamamie', a play on the Spanish term for 'crazy' โ€“ 'cucรบ'.

Pop Culture

  • The term gained popularity in the mid-20th century, often used in comedic films and sitcoms.
  • Artists such as animated characters often used it to describe ludicrous schemes or plans.
  • In modern usage, it appears in both stand-up comedy and satirical writings.

Psychology

  • People often use this word to dismiss ideas that seem far-fetched, reflecting critical thinking.
  • Understanding why certain ideas are labeled cockamamie can enhance one's ability to evaluate information critically.
  • Using humor when labeling ideas as cockamamie can relieve tension in discussions.

Literature

  • Writers use cockamamie to create quirky characters or absurd situations, adding humor or charm.
  • The term has appeared in novels and children's stories to depict fantastical narratives.
  • It reflects a playful use of language that encourages creativity in storytelling.

Sociolinguistics

  • The usage of cockamamie can reveal regional dialects, primarily found in American English.
  • Its informal nature makes it more popular in spoken language than in formal writings.
  • The acceptance of cockamamie in conversation indicates a shared understanding of humor and exaggeration among speakers.

Translations

Translations of the word "cockamamie" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น absurdo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅ‡เคคเฅเค•เคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช absurd

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ konyol

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐะฑััƒั€ะด

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ absurdalny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใฐใ‹ใ’ใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท absurde

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ absurdo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท saรงmalฤฑk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ„ฐ๋ฌด๋‹ˆ์—†๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฎูŠู

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ absurdnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ absurdnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่’่ฐฌ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ absurd

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fรกrรกnlegt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะฑััƒั€ะด

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ‘แƒกแƒฃแƒ แƒ“แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ absurd

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ absurdo

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,483, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.