A load of cobblers
Meaning
This phrase describes something as complete nonsense or utter rubbish.
Origin
The phrase "a load of cobblers" springs from the colourful world of London's Cockney rhyming slang. It's a clipped version of "cobbler's awls," which ingeniously rhymes with "balls," referring to testicles. In this context, "balls" is used informally to mean "nonsense" or "rubbish." So, when someone declares something "a load of cobblers," they are essentially saying it's utter rubbish, cleverly disguised with a centuries-old linguistic trick from the East End's street talk, now widely understood across Britain.
Examples
- His explanation for missing the deadline was a load of cobblers, everyone knew he'd just forgotten.
- Don't listen to a word he says about investing; it's all a load of cobblers and you'll lose your money.