Boondoggle

Definition: a useless project, such that wastes both time and money.

Pronunciation: bun-da-gel

Origin

This great noun dates back to the 1935 New York Times edition reporting that more than $3 million had been spent on recreational activities for the jobless as part of the ‘New Deal’ policy. One of these activities was crafting classes in which ‘boon doggles’ were produced of cloth or leather; these ‘boon doggles’ were various utilitarian gadgets that, well, no one actually needed.

Why this word?

Just a few days before the American elections, yesterday’s unemployment rate remained at a steady 7.9%, while nonfarm payrolls increased quite dramatically. This word is here to remind us to look for these boondoggles upon voting on our future.

How to use the word boondoggle?

Boondoggle is a noun representative of a worthless project, one that is mainly continues due to extraneous policy motivations.

“Critics say the dam is a complete boondoggle- over bought, behind schedule and highly unnecessary“.

“Your offer is a boondoggle; I have much better activities to fill my days with“.