No poli-talk in this post.
Just a quick query on a Malayan (sorry, not Malaysian) colloquialism, to wit, the word or term 'poloma'.
It could be 'polo-mah' too, but I hope you get the gist of how it sounds, first two syllables like the elite horseback-ball game of 'polo' followed by 'ma', rather than how it would be written - probably I'm the first to put the word into print.
It was a popular (oral) term with people of my father's generation, hmmm, perhaps those in the late 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's.
![]()
I am no sure whether it was derived from the Malay language or Indian? I'm sure it doesn't sound anywhere near Chinese, but I have to confess I don't know.
But I recall my late dad, uncles and their mates used that word 'poloma' to mean what we today would say 'bullshit', ie. bullshit as in 'chong', though chong carries a more ulterior meaning, ie. to lie or bullshit with the intention of cheating.
![]()
'Poloma' is more innocent where the bullshitting might not have an intention to deceive but more to just boast (show off; gain attention), or lie for the sake of lying, or in more polite terms 'let go' (the bullshit, that is - wakakaka).
![]()
For example, in blogging, I might be moved to say "looes74 pandai 'poloma'" or "for god's sake, your god that is, wakakaka, don't 'poloma' lah", wakakaka.
After my dad passed away, I heard mention of the word in KL by one of my teachers, an elderly Chinese man who admonished one of my colleagues not to 'poloma' (bullshit).
Thus it was not a colloquialism confined to only Penang but more likely throughout Malaya and probably Singapore as well - I have no idea whether it was used in Sabah and Sarawak.
![]()
However, the word was not confined to use by Chinese only as it was (in my dad's days) used by his Malay and Mamak friends. And yes, it can be used in the English, Malay and Chinese languages, though I am clueless as to its employment in Tamil, wakakaka.
Can anyone throw some light on its etymology?
![]()
 |
| grade A 'poloma' |
Just a quick query on a Malayan (sorry, not Malaysian) colloquialism, to wit, the word or term 'poloma'.
It could be 'polo-mah' too, but I hope you get the gist of how it sounds, first two syllables like the elite horseback-ball game of 'polo' followed by 'ma', rather than how it would be written - probably I'm the first to put the word into print.
It was a popular (oral) term with people of my father's generation, hmmm, perhaps those in the late 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's.
I am no sure whether it was derived from the Malay language or Indian? I'm sure it doesn't sound anywhere near Chinese, but I have to confess I don't know.
But I recall my late dad, uncles and their mates used that word 'poloma' to mean what we today would say 'bullshit', ie. bullshit as in 'chong', though chong carries a more ulterior meaning, ie. to lie or bullshit with the intention of cheating.
'Poloma' is more innocent where the bullshitting might not have an intention to deceive but more to just boast (show off; gain attention), or lie for the sake of lying, or in more polite terms 'let go' (the bullshit, that is - wakakaka).
For example, in blogging, I might be moved to say "looes74 pandai 'poloma'" or "for god's sake, your god that is, wakakaka, don't 'poloma' lah", wakakaka.
 |
| looes has that effect on people wakakaka |
After my dad passed away, I heard mention of the word in KL by one of my teachers, an elderly Chinese man who admonished one of my colleagues not to 'poloma' (bullshit).
Thus it was not a colloquialism confined to only Penang but more likely throughout Malaya and probably Singapore as well - I have no idea whether it was used in Sabah and Sarawak.
However, the word was not confined to use by Chinese only as it was (in my dad's days) used by his Malay and Mamak friends. And yes, it can be used in the English, Malay and Chinese languages, though I am clueless as to its employment in Tamil, wakakaka.
Can anyone throw some light on its etymology?
