the.com/tout
To praise something loudly, ideally right before selling it to you.
means To publicly and enthusiastically praise or promote something, usually to drum up sales or support.
from From Middle English 'tuten,' meaning to peer or peep out, related to Old English spying/watching words — a tout was originally a lookout, specifically a racetrack spy who watched horses train in order to leak tips to bettors. From sneaking a peek at the horses, the word slid into shouting about them, and eventually into the general hustle of loud, self-interested promotion.
- origin
- middle english for to peek or spy
- horse racing
- originally a tipster scouting rivals stables
- modern use
- scalpers tout tickets outside sold-out shows
- red flag
- the louder the touting, the smaller the substance