tomfoolery
Say it: tom-FOO-luh-ree /tɒmˈfuːləri/ · noun
What “tomfoolery” means
Silly behaviour and messing about.
More precisely: Foolish or silly behaviour.
Example: “Enough tomfoolery — the client call starts in five minutes.”
When to use it
Use it when people are being silly instead of getting on with something. It sounds playful and slightly old-fashioned.
Memory trick
The fool in tomfoolery points straight to foolish, silly behaviour.
Similar words
silliness, clowning, buffoonery
Quick check
Instead of setting the table, your brothers wear saucepans as helmets and duel with wooden spoons. That's…
teamwork or tomfoolery?
Show the answer
tomfoolery
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