Merriam-Webster's word of the day is
hoopla
pronounced HOO-plah
a noun
referring to talk or writing that is designed to get people excited about or interested in something, often with the implication that the person using the word does not find the thing exciting or interesting
1:
chiefly US, informal + often disapproving :
excited or agitated commotion or activity : bustle
also : agitated, excited, or angry discussion : fuss
2:
chiefly US, informal + often disapproving :
extravagant promotion or publicity : ballyhoo
also : an event or occasion featuring hoopla
Did you know that in French, the interjection houp-là is used roughly the same way as English’s upsy-daisy or whoops-a-daisy? When the word was borrowed into English, however, it referred to a kind of excited or agitated commotion, synonymous with other h-words including hoo-ha, hubbub, and hullabaloo. Hoopla later became synonymous to hype, especially of the kind marketing execs cook up for the release of a new product. Both senses can carry with them a whiff of disapproval. If you’re calling something hoopla, chances are you want to convey to others that the cause of the fuss may not be such a big deal.
(taken from Merriam-Webster)
To see it in context or listen to the pronunciation, check the link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day (August 4, 2024).
