humbug

"Humbug" refers to insincere or deceptive talk, behavior, or claims intended to mislead or impress others, often by pretending something is better or more impressive than it truly is. The term gained popularity through Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," where it describes false or foolish pretenses. Essentially, humbug is a form of pretense or nonsense meant to deceive, lacking genuine substance or honesty. It can describe trivial, foolish, or dishonest chatter that aims to create an illusion, often for self-serving purposes.