piffle

Unknown, 1847. Perhaps blend of piddle +‎ trifle, perhaps puff (“(onomatopoeia, puff of air)”) +‎ -le (“diminutive”).[1]

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪf.əl/

• Audio (AU)

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• Rhymes: -ɪfəl

piffle (uncountable)

1. Nonsense, foolish talk.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:nonsense

   • 2008 November 27, “Walking: More than gadding about”, in The Economist‎:

     The wafflier the piffle, the more sharply Mr Nicholson wields his skewer.

   • 2022 May 31, James Vincent, “Boris Johnson’s move to bring back imperial units is pure piffle – and simply unfathomable”, in The Guardian‎:

     The move is obviously pure piffle: a dumbshow designed to placate (or at least entertain) the conservative base while distracting and antagonising rivals.

piffle (third-person singular simple present piffles, present participle piffling, simple past and past participle piffled)

1. To act or speak in a futile, ineffective, or nonsensical manner.
2. To waste, to fritter away.
3. (dated) To be squeamish or delicate.

• (act or speak in a futile manner): trifle, twaddle