balloon juice

== English == === Etymology === Extended from synonymous hot air, gas. Attested in both senses from the 19th century. === Noun === balloon juice (uncountable) (informal, chiefly US) Empty or exaggerated talk lacking in substance, boasting, chatter, nonsense. Synonyms: bunkum, hokum, hooey, hot air; see also Thesaurus:nonsense (informal, slang, dated) Any of various beverages, usually including gas dissolved in liquid. ==== Usage notes ==== When referring to beverages, balloon juice often indicates non-alcoholic drinks, with soda water prototypical. Allsopp notes the word used for sweetened fizzy drinks in Barbados and Guyana. In contrast, Green notes US usage for “any form of alcohol”. === References ===