subs. phr. (old).—A trifle; an absurdity; folly; nonsense. As adj. = foolish, nonsensical, trifling. Also (GROSE) ‘like master, like man.’
1547. PATTEN [ARBER, English Garner, iii. 70]. Our consciences, now quite unclogged from the fear of [the Pope’s] vain terriculaments and rattle-bladders, and from the fondness of his TRIM-TRAMS and gewgaws.
1582. STANYHURST, Æneis, ii. 113. But loa, to what purpose do I chat such ianglerye TRIM TRAMS?
1760–2. SMOLLETT, Sir Launcelot Greaves, xiii. They thought you as great a nincompoop as your ’squire—TRIM-TRAM, like master, like man.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 411. He’s telling some long TRIM-TRAM story.
