humbugging
Putting on airs
Humbugging is the act of deceiving or hoaxing someone, or behaving in an insincere, misleading way.
The word carries a tone of mild theatrical fraud rather than serious deception: He's just humbugging you with that story.
In some Caribbean and African American contexts, humbugging means pestering or bothering someone persistently: Stop humbugging me while I'm trying to work.
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
sham · con · scam · deceit · fakery · duplicity · chicanery · imposture · charlatan · dupery
balderdash
Senseless talk or writing
poppycock · twaddle · malarkey · drivel · rubbish · tommyrot · codswallop · hokum · blather · flapdoodle
humbugginggetting down to business
Focusing on the task
meaning business · focusing · applying oneself · cutting to the chase · buckling down