horsefeathers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal, Humorous, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “horsefeathers” mean?
Nonsense, foolish talk, ridiculous ideas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Nonsense, foolish talk, ridiculous ideas.
An exclamation of dismissal or disbelief directed at something considered absurd or untrue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American in origin and historical usage. It would be recognized by many British speakers primarily through exposure to classic American films or literature but is not part of contemporary or historical British vernacular.
Connotations
American: Nostalgic, old-fashioned, humorous. British: A consciously adopted Americanism, possibly seen as a quaint or dated novelty.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern use in both varieties. Its highest period of use was in American English from the 1920s-1950s.
Grammar
How to Use “horsefeathers” in a Sentence
[exclamation] 'Horsefeathers!'[predicative] That is horsefeathers.[object of verb] He's spouting horsefeathers again.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “horsefeathers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's just horsefeathering about his connections to the royal family. (Very rare, non-standard)
American English
- Quit horsefeathering and tell me what really happened. (Rare, informal)
adverb
British English
- [No established adverbial use.]
American English
- [No established adverbial use.]
adjective
British English
- That's a horsefeathers proposal if I ever heard one. (Very rare)
American English
- He gave some horsefeathers excuse for being late. (Rare, informal)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used; would be seen as highly unprofessional.
Academic
Not used; lacks precision and seriousness.
Everyday
Only used jokingly or to affect an old-fashioned tone among friends or family.
Technical
No technical application.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “horsefeathers”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'three horsefeathers').
- Attempting a literal translation.
- Overusing it, making speech sound affected.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a euphemism or minced oath. It was created as a humorous, family-friendly substitute for stronger expletives like 'horseshit' or 'bullshit'.
You can, but it will sound very old-fashioned and intentionally humorous. It is not a part of contemporary casual speech and may confuse some listeners.
Both mean 'nonsense', but 'balderdash' is older (16th century) and has British origins, while 'horsefeathers' is 20th century and distinctly American. 'Balderdash' can sound more theatrical, while 'horsefeathers' sounds more folksy and dated.
No, that game is called 'shuttlecock' or 'badminton'. The word 'horsefeathers' has no connection to sports or games; it is purely an exclamation of disbelief.
Nonsense, foolish talk, ridiculous ideas.
Horsefeathers is usually informal, humorous, archaic in register.
Horsefeathers: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːsˌfɛðəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrsˌfɛðərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word itself functions as an idiom.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old, fancy horse wearing a hat made of FEATHERS and talking utter NONSENSE.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTHLESS IDEAS ARE WORTHLESS ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS (like manure).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'horsefeathers' be LEAST appropriate?