noun

malarkey

muh-LAR-kee/məˈlɑːrki/

Foolish or insincere talk.

The fisherman's boast about a huge catch is malarkey beside the tiny fish.

A fisherman talks animatedly with his hands spread implausibly far apart to indicate a huge catch, while his skeptical companion holds up the tiny fish and points at it.

Etymology

Malarkey is recorded as American slang for lies, exaggerations, and humbug. Its origin is unknown, so no secure historical pieces explain how it acquired its meaning of foolish or misleading talk.

In context

Senator Ted Cruz15:13

Republicans don't care about young people or old people or people struggling that is malarkey Bernie

Sen. Cruz and Sen. Sanders Debate Tax Reform on CNN - October 18, 2017

More examples

That claim about an instant cure is pure malarkey.
Don't give me any malarkey about why you're late.
His speech is full of malarkey, but the audience loves it.

Similar words

nonsense: Covers foolish ideas or behavior as well as talk.
baloney: Similarly dismisses talk as false, silly, or not credible.