Etymology Unknown, 1847. Perhaps blend of piddle + trifle, perhaps puff (“(onomatopoeia, puff of air)”) + -le (“diminutive”).
1
Nonsense, foolish talk.
The wafflier the piffle, the more sharply Mr Nicholson wields his skewer.2008 November 27, “Walking: More than gadding about”, in The Economist:
The move is obviously pure piffle: a dumbshow designed to placate (or at least entertain) the conservative base while distracting and antagonising rivals.2022 May 31, James Vincent, “Boris Johnson’s move to bring back imperial units is pure piffle – and simply unfathomable”, in The Guardian:
piffle
verb
Etymology Unknown, 1847. Perhaps blend of piddle + trifle, perhaps puff (“(onomatopoeia, puff of air)”) + -le (“diminutive”).
1
To act or speak in a futile, ineffective, or nonsensical manner.