👉 ballyhoo is a popular phrase in the United States that refers to someone who has done something foolish or embarrassing. It comes from the Latin word "blair" (meaning "to cry") and means "foolishness." The phrase was first used in 1940s advertisements for a new soda brand, Ballyhoo, which quickly became popular due to its catchy slogan. Today, it's often used as a pejorative term to describe someone who has