humbug

Pronunciation

• (UK) (Canada) IPA ^(key): /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈhəmˌbəɡ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: hum‧bug

Noun

Singular humbug

Plural humbugs

1. A cheat, swindle, or trick.

   I was the victim of a humbug.

2. (countable) (Britain) A humbug is a type of hard sweet that is peppermint flavoured with a striped pattern.

Verb

Plain form humbug

Third-person singular humbugs

Past tense humbugged

Past participle humbugged

Present participle humbugging

1. To humbug means to cheat, swindle, or trick.

   Don't humbug me.

   That salesman thinks he can humbug everybody.

   I was humbugged when I bought that used car.

   P. T. Barnum was accused of humbugging the public.

   Jack humbugs every customer.