schmar

Schmar is a Yiddish word that has entered American English, particularly in Jewish communities, as an expression of dismissal or disbelief. It is often used to negate something someone has said, implying that it is unimportant, untrue, or not worth considering. The word can be uttered as a standalone exclamation or incorporated into a phrase. For example, someone might say "Oh, schmar!" in response to an unlikely story or a boastful claim. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to dismiss or ignore something. The term carries a sense of weary resignation or mild contempt. While its origins are firmly rooted in Yiddish, its usage has broadened to include a general sense of "nonsense" or "baloney" for speakers outside of specific cultural contexts. Its exact etymology is debated, but it is thought to derive from a Hebrew word related to "empty" or "vain."