bazoo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / ObsoleteSlang, Archaic, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “bazoo” mean?
A loud, boastful, or foolish way of talking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A loud, boastful, or foolish way of talking; empty or vulgar speech. Historically, a slang term for the mouth.
Can refer to the nose, especially a large or prominent one, in North American slang. Also used for any loud, buzzing wind instrument, like a kazoo.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to be encountered in historical American texts referring to the nose or mouth. British usage was historically for the mouth or for foolish talk, but is now virtually extinct in both regions.
Connotations
Connotes crudeness, boastfulness, or simple humor. Not a polite term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Found in late 19th/early 20th-century literature and slang dictionaries.
Grammar
How to Use “bazoo” in a Sentence
to blow one's own bazoo (about sth)to shut one's bazooVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bazoo” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He wouldn't stop bazooing on about his new car.
- Just bazoo off, will you?
American English
- He's always bazooing about his accomplishments.
- Don't just bazoo nonsense all day.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or studies of slang.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation. Would be considered odd or an attempt at old-fashioned humor.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bazoo”
- Using it in formal or neutral contexts.
- Assuming it is a common, contemporary word.
- Spelling it as 'bazoom' or 'bazou'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic slang term. It is found in dictionaries of slang and historical usage, but is not part of modern standard vocabulary.
The fixed idiom 'to blow one's own bazoo,' meaning to boast or sing one's own praises.
Absolutely not. It is informal, archaic slang and would be highly inappropriate in any formal context.
They are related. A 'kazoo' is a specific musical instrument. 'Bazoo' was a slang term that could refer to any similar buzzing wind instrument, or by metaphor, to the mouth.
A loud, boastful, or foolish way of talking.
Bazoo is usually slang, archaic, humorous in register.
Bazoo: in British English it is pronounced /bəˈzuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈzuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Blow your own bazoo: To boast or brag about oneself.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bee (bzzz) flying into a ZOO. The loud, buzzing noise it makes is coming from its 'bazoo' (mouth).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MOUTH IS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (that can be blown to produce noise/speech).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you historically have used the word 'bazoo'?