Variant spelling of 'ballyhoo'; sensational or extravagant publicity or fuss made about something, often exaggerated.
A variant of 'ballyhoo,' which may derive from the Irish village of Ballyhooly or from Irish 'baile' (town) plus 'hú' (cry). First appeared in American English in the late 19th century as slang.
The true origin of 'ballyhoo' remains a linguistic mystery—it burst onto the American scene in the 1880s from carnival barkers and circus promoters who used it to advertise their shows with maximum hype and drama.
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