What does “flummery” mean?
My colleague George Monbiot memorably described the Corporation of the City of London as “the place where democracy goes to die”, a local authority dominated by liverymen dressed in all manner of Ruritanian flummery, awarding each other pensions, commissioning portraits of each other – and dominated by banks and big business.

Su.Ki., Jerry. Thank you for your help!

Question

What does “flummery” mean?
My colleague George Monbiot memorably described the Corporation of the City of London as “the place where democracy goes to die”, a local authority dominated by liverymen dressed in all manner of Ruritanian flummery, awarding each other pensions, commissioning portraits of each other – and dominated by banks and big business.

Su.Ki., Jerry. Thank you for your help!

Answer

Flummery: empty compliments and nonsense. This is probably British and not American. Flummery is also a pudding.

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;)

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You're the cousin I had in mind :)

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British cousin here. You're right. It suggests fancy, over-ornate uniforms with gold braid, epaulettes and suchlike.

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It might also refer to silly, frilly clothes. Maybe my British cousins will weigh in on this question.