adjective
cockamamie
KAH-kuh-may-mee/ˈkɑːkəmeɪmi/
Absurd or foolish.
His cockamamie colander hat lets rain pour straight onto his head.
Etymology
Cockamamie may be an alteration of decalcomania, the name for transferring pictures onto surfaces. An early use apparently referred to a child’s temporary tattoo, but the connection to “ridiculous” is uncertain.
In context
There's some cockamamie new thing that they come up with and it's the type of people that are that deceptive. I mean, it's just it doesn't make sense.
More examples
- This cockamamie plan will cost more than it saves.
- Who came up with this cockamamie rule?
- She dismisses the rumor as another cockamamie conspiracy theory.
Forms
cockamamie
Similar words
- absurd
- Emphasizes a lack of logic; less informal than cockamamie.
- foolish
- Emphasizes poor judgment rather than a bizarre or ridiculous idea.
- ridiculous
- Emphasizes deserving mockery; cockamamie often suggests something implausible or harebrained.