phony — pho ny (f[=o] n[=e]), a. [Also spelled {phoney}.] [Compar. {phonier}; superl. {phoniest}.] 1. imitating something superior; intended to deceive; fraudulent; having a misleading appearance; not genuine; counterfeit; fake; as, a phony diamond; a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
phony — pho ny (f[=o] n[=e]), n. something or someone that is phony. [Also spelled {phoney}.] [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
phony — (adj.) not genuine, 1900, phoney, perhaps an alteration of FAWNEY (Cf. fawney) gilt brass ring used by swindlers. The noun meaning phony person or thing is attested from 1902 … Etymology dictionary
phony — index bogus, fictitious, fraudulent, imitation, specious Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
phony — adj *counterfeit, spurious, bogus, fake, sham, pseudo, pinchbeck … New Dictionary of Synonyms
phony — [adj] fake, false affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, counterfeit, forged, imitation, pseudo, put on*, sham*, spurious, trick; concept 582 Ant. genuine, real, sincere … New thesaurus
-phony — [fə nē, fō′nē] [< Gr phōnē, a sound: see PHONO ] combining form forming nouns a (specified kind of) sound [polyphony] … English World dictionary
phony — ☆ phony [fō′nē ] adj. phonier, phoniest [altered < Brit thieves argot fawney, gilt ring (passed off as gold by swindlers) < Ir fáinne] Informal not genuine; false, counterfeit, spurious, pretentious, etc. n. pl. phonies Informal 1.… … English World dictionary
phony — 1. mod. bogus; fake. □ This money looks phony to me. □ I can’t stand phony vanilla flavoring. 2. n. someone or something bogus. □ That guy is a real phony! □ Look … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
phony — I. adjective also phoney (phonier; est) Etymology: perhaps alteration of fawney gilded brass ring used in the fawney rig, a confidence game, from Irish fáinne ring, from Old Irish ánne more at anus Date: 1900 not genuine or real: as a. (1)… … New Collegiate Dictionary
phony — phonily, adv. phoniness, n. /foh nee/, adj., phonier, phoniest, n., pl. phonies, v., phonied, phonying. adj. 1. not real or genuine; fake; counterfeit: a phony diamond. 2. false or deceiving; not truthful; concocted: a phony explanation. 3.… … Universalium
