Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Dazzling excitement.
- noun Elaborate action or maneuvers designed to deceive an opponent, as in a sports contest.
- noun Extravagant or showy display, as of technique.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To dazzle and confuse; daze in a sudden or humorous way; bewilder; intoxicate.
- noun A state of dazed confusion or dizziness, as in intoxication.
- noun A revolving platform, with a swift, irregular, swerving motion, on which passengers are carried, for their amusement, at fairs and pleasure-resorts.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
Glitz ,glamor /glamour ,showiness , orpizazz ;schmaltz .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun any exciting and complex play intended to confuse (dazzle) the opponent
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The team have been honing their razzle-dazzle chops over two decades.
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A relative unknown as money managers go, our magician has also displayed considerable razzle-dazzle in the marketplace in recent years with an awesome exhibition of uncanny market timing.
Dan Dorfman: Abracadabra on Wall Street Dan Dorfman 2010
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But even some of his 'lighter' entertainments have dark undercurrents and most of them have genuine depth below the big-budget razzle-dazzle.
Scott Mendelson: On the Inherent Darkness and Pessimism of Steven Spielberg... Scott Mendelson 2012
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New Jersey is hoping to bring a little Las Vegas razzle-dazzle to Atlantic City with a law making it easier to get married on a whim.
New Jersey Weddings May Go Vegas Style Heather Haddon 2012
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But even some of his 'lighter' entertainments have dark undercurrents and most of them have genuine depth below the big-budget razzle-dazzle.
Scott Mendelson: On the Inherent Darkness and Pessimism of Steven Spielberg... Scott Mendelson 2012
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But even some of his 'lighter' entertainments have dark undercurrents and most of them have genuine depth below the big-budget razzle-dazzle.
Scott Mendelson: On the Inherent Darkness and Pessimism of Steven Spielberg... Scott Mendelson 2012
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Baby blue Lycra covered in white fishnet, paint, and Swarovski crystals, the result was totally razzle-dazzle, much more Russian, and much more me.
Welcome to My World Johnny Weir 2011
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A fraudulent sense of earnestness and of Modernist discovery permeates these confused, formless pictures, in which fake "pentimenti" and searching "expressive" flourishes are applied razzle-dazzle to Norman Rockwell-style portraits.
Exploring Spaces And Life's Continuity Lance Esplund 2011
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Embraer's lack of razzle-dazzle seems to have turned off investors.
Embraer Could Sizzle Despite Low Profile Liam Denning 2011
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Start a dating service for people over fifty to reclaim the razzle-dazzle in your lifeor your marriage?
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg: Book summary 2010
oroboros commented on the word razzle-dazzle
lookit all 'em z's
December 3, 2006
sionnach commented on the word razzle-dazzle
According to Stephen Pinker:
The reason we say "razzle-dazzle" rather than "dazzle-razzle" is because "The word beginning with the less obstruent consonant always comes before the word beginning with the more obstruent consonant."
November 2, 2007
reesetee commented on the word razzle-dazzle
That Pinker. He knows.
November 2, 2007
seanahan commented on the word razzle-dazzle
Seriously, I'd trust Pinker over my own mother.
November 2, 2007
oroboros commented on the word razzle-dazzle
whad'ya spoze Pinker'd say 'bout pinking shears?
November 2, 2007