noun
blarney
BLAR-nee/ˈblɑːrni/
Charming but misleading or exaggerated talk.
The seller uses blarney to persuade the skeptical customer to buy the vase.
Etymology
Blarney names the castle whose famous stone is said to give persuasive powers to anyone who kisses it. That association made the name a word for charming, excessively flattering talk.
In context
Don't be giving me some story about you wanted to save up that $1,000. That's blarney. That's a story. That's made up.
More examples
- She listened skeptically to the salesman’s blarney.
- The speech mixed genuine warmth with obvious blarney.
- He relied on blarney instead of answering the question.
Forms
blarney
Similar words
- flattery
- Flattery praises people to please them; blarney combines flattering charm with exaggerated or misleading talk.
- bunk
- Bunk dismisses talk as nonsense; blarney emphasizes its persuasive charm.