eyewash

eyewash
eyewash "a wash or lotion for the eyes," 1866, from EYE (Cf. eye) (n.) + WASH (Cf. wash) (n.). Colloquial use for "blarney, humbug" (1884), chiefly British, is perhaps from the notion of "something intended to obscure or conceal facts or true motives." But this, and expression my eye also may be the verbal equivalent of the wink that indicates one doesn't believe what has been said (Cf. Fr. mon oeil in same sense, accompanied by a knowing pointing of a finger to the eye).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Eyewash — is a fluid, commonly saline, used in the aid of rinsing of the eye. Eyewash may also describe the apparatus used to physically wash the eyes in the case that they may be contaminated by foreign materials or substances.Eyewashes may be beneficial… …   Wikipedia

  • Eyewash — Eye wash, n. See {Eyewater}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eyewash — [ī′wôsh΄] n. 1. a medicated solution for the eyes 2. Slang a) nonsense b) flattery c) something done only to impress an observer …   English World dictionary

  • eyewash — 1. n. nonsense; deception. □ Aw, that’s just a lot of eyewash! □ It’s not eyewash! It’s true! 2. n. liquor. □ How about some of that nice eyewash? □ You’ve been …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • eyewash — noun a) A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes Talking of being eaten by dogs, theres a dachshund at Brinkley who when you first meet him will give you the impression that he plans to convert you into a light snack between his regular meals.… …   Wiktionary

  • eyewash — noun Date: circa 1859 1. an eye lotion 2. misleading or deceptive statements, actions, or procedures …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • eyewash — /uy wosh , uy wawsh /, n. 1. Also called collyrium. Pharm. a solution applied locally to the eye for irrigation or administering medication. 2. Informal. nonsense; bunk. [1865 70; EYE + WASH] * * * …   Universalium

  • eyewash — A soothing solution used for bathing the eye. * * * eye·wash ī .wȯsh, .wäsh n an eye lotion …   Medical dictionary

  • eyewash — Synonyms and related words: adulation, balls, balm, baloney, balsam, bilge, blague, blandishment, blarney, bosh, brilliantine, bull, bullshit, bunk, bunkum, cajolement, cajolery, cerate, chrism, claptrap, cold cream, collyrium, compliment, crap,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Eyewash — (older slang) nonsense …   Dictionary of Australian slang

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