The headline in today’s Washington Post editorial calls the Saudi explanation a fable.
Sometimes my parents used the prefix “schm” when something was so untrue it was beyond belief. They would say the original word and add the prefix “schm” to the following word.
Being Jewish we used lots of Yiddish words. “Schmable” isn’t Yiddish as far as I can tell. It just sounds like it is.
For example with this ludicrous explanation, I could also say “yeah, right, explanation schmexplanation.” While with “fable schmable” the second word indicates the first word isn't nearly strong enough, in “explanation schmexplanation” the second word negates the first.
Many Yiddish words in fairly common usage begin with “schm.”
- Schmaltz: Melted chicken fat; excessive sentimentality (from Yiddish שמאַלץ shmalts or German Schmalz) (OED, MW)
- Schmatta: A rag (from Yiddish שמאַטע shmate, from Polish szmata) (OED); also means junk or low-quality merchandise: "Don't buy from Silverman; all he sells is schmatta."
- Schmeer also Schmear: (noun or verb) Spread (e.g., cream cheese on a bagel); bribe (from Yiddish שמיר shmir 'smear'; cf. German schmieren) (OED, MW)
- Schmo: A stupid person (an alteration of schmuck; see below) (OED, possibly influenced by Heb. שמו, 'his or its name', indicating either anonymity or euphemism.
- Schmooze: To converse informally, make small talk or chat (from Yiddish שמועסן shmuesn 'converse', from Hebrew שמועות shəmūʿōth 'reports, gossip') (OED, MW)
- Schmuck: (vulgar) A contemptible or foolish person; a jerk; literally means 'penis' (from Yiddish שמאָק shmok 'penis')
- Schmutter: Pieces of clothing; rubbish (from Yiddish שמאַטע shmate 'rag', as above) (OED)
- Schmutz: Dirt (from Yiddish שמוץ shmuts or German Schmutz 'dirt') (OED)
If we can believe Stormy Daniels, two Yiddish words which describe Trump can be combined:
“he’s the schmuck with the tiny schmeckel.”
The later word isn’t on the Wikipedia list above (it is in the Urban Dictionary), but as you can figure out it means penis and is often used to describe a pre-pubescent’s penis affectionately. The phrase is redundant in the sense that the word schmuck has its orgins as a vulgar word for penis, but came to mean one who is stupid, foolish, or an obnoxious, contemptible or detestable person.
Growing up in Westchester County, New York which had a huge Jewish population, at a certain age I used the word “schmuck” at least several times a month to describe classmates, though never used it at home. I was told, probably deservedly, “don’t be a schmuck,” and I was called a schmuck more than a few times.
Back to politics:
Everyone in the liberal press is writing about this or discussing it on the non-Fox media expressing incredulity that Trump has bought this Saudi brew of bullshit. One is tempted to ask “how dumb do they think we are?”
The “they” it doesn’t matter how dumb we, the American public, are. All they need to know is that President Trump is that dumb.