barker
/'bɑ:kə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who loudly advertises or attracts customers: Someone, typically at an entertainment venue like a carnival, circus, or sideshow, who stands outside and gives a loud, lively, and persuasive speech to draw in an audience or potential customers.
- Informal term for a dog that barks: A dog, especially one that barks frequently or loudly.
Usage
- As a person advertising:
- The carnival barker shouted about the amazing wonders inside the tent.
- He worked as a barker for the freak show, enticing people with his booming voice.
- As a dog:
- That little barker next door keeps me awake all night.
- We couldn't calm down the excited barker.
Advanced Usage
- "Barker's spiel": Refers to the specific, often rehearsed, sales pitch or monologue delivered by a barker.
- The barker's spiel was so convincing that a large crowd quickly gathered.
Variants and Related Words
- Bark (verb): To make the sharp, loud sound characteristic of a dog; to speak or shout in a loud, harsh voice.
- The dog will bark at strangers.
- The sergeant barked orders at the recruits.
Synonyms
- For the person: Hawker, pitchman, tout, spruiker (Australian informal).
- For the dog: Dog, hound, canine (though these are more general; "barker" specifically implies a barking dog).
Related Phrases
- "Like a barker at a fair": Used to describe someone who is being very loud and insistent in their promotion or speech.
- He was selling his product like a barker at a fair, drawing everyone's attention.
Noun
- informal terms for dogs
- someone who stands in front of a show (as at a carnival) and gives a loud colorful sales talk to potential customers