potboiler

[pot-boi-ler] /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪ lər/
noun
1.
a mediocre work of literature or art produced merely for financial gain.
Origin
1860-65; pot1 + boiler
Examples from the web for potboiler
  • The annals of art heists brim with tales ready-made for a potboiler novel.
British Dictionary definitions for potboiler

potboiler

/ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə/
noun
1.
(informal) a literary or artistic work of little merit produced quickly in order to make money
Word Origin and History for potboiler
n.

also pot-boiler, 1864 in the figurative literary sense, from pot (n.1) + agent noun from boil (v.). The notion is of something one writes solely to put food on the table.

Slang definitions & phrases for potboiler

potboiler

noun

A book, play, etc, written just to get money, esp something done rather badly by a writer who can do very well

[1864+; fr the notion that one does such work only to keep the food pot boiling in the domicile]