Rhubarb: British Theatre’s Nonsense Word

If you’ve ever heard someone say “rhubarb” in a British setting, you may have been puzzled by the context. In British English, the noun “rhubarb” is colloquially used to denote nonsense. For instance, when Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was asked about his involvement in helping to evacuate animals during the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2021, he dismissed the claims as “total rhubarb.” But where does this peculiar use of the word come from?

The use of “rhubarb” to denote nonsense originated in the theatrical practice consisting of a group of actors repeating the word “rhubarb” to represent an indistinct background conversation or the noise of a crowd. This practice dates back to at least the late 19th or early 20th century, as suggested by Alexander McQueen, an Englishman who studied dramatic art under a pupil of the famous old actor Hermann Vezin.

When a few actors gathered backstage and represented the “noise without” made by a mob, they intoned the sonorous word “rhubarb.” The action was called “rhubarbing,” and the actors “rhubarbers.” This technique was used to create the impression of a busy street or market, without the need for too many actors on stage.

The word “rhubarb” has since come to be used more broadly to signify nonsense or meaningless chatter. It is often employed in political or social commentary to dismiss a statement or idea as frivolous or lacking in substance.

Interestingly, the practice of using “rhubarb” in the theatre seems to have originated in England and spread to the United States, rather than the other way around. Theatrical traditions were passed down from actor to actor, all the way back to William Davenant and Shakespeare. The use of “rhubarb” was a part of this tradition, and those in the know took pride in preserving it.

While the use of “rhubarb” to denote nonsense may seem random and arbitrary, it has a long history in the theatre. This word, once used to simulate a bustling street or marketplace, has now become a popular way of dismissing empty or irrelevant chatter. So the next time you hear someone in the UK say “rhubarb,” you’ll know that they’re not talking about the fruit, but rather expressing their disdain for meaningless talk.