blarney
/'blɑ:ni/
Definition
Noun:
- Smooth, flattering, or coaxing talk: "Blarney" refers to pleasant, persuasive, and often insincere speech intended to charm, flatter, or gain favor from someone.
Verb:
- To influence or persuade by using flattery or smooth talk: "To blarney" means to use charming, flattering, or coaxing words to gently urge or persuade someone to do something.
Usage
- As a Noun: Used to describe the act or content of flattering speech.
- As a Verb: Used to describe the action of employing such speech to persuade.
Examples
- Noun:
- He was a master of blarney, always knowing just what to say to get what he wanted.
- Don't believe all his compliments; it's just blarney.
- Verb:
- She managed to blarney her father into letting her borrow the car.
- The salesman tried to blarney the customer into buying the more expensive model.
Advanced Usage
- "The gift of the blarney": A phrase referring to a natural talent for charming, persuasive, or eloquent speech.
- As a politician, he certainly had the gift of the blarney.
Variants and Related Words
- Blarney Stone (Proper Noun): A stone set in the wall of Blarney Castle in Ireland, which legend says endows those who kiss it with the ability to speak persuasively and flatteringly.
- Tourists visit the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Synonyms
- Noun: Flattery, cajolery, sweet talk, coaxing, soft soap, palaver.
- Verb: Flatter, coax, cajole, wheedle, sweet-talk, palaver.
Related Phrases
- To be full of blarney: To be habitually or excessively given to using flattering or insincere talk.
- Don't listen to him; he's full of blarney.
Noun
-
flattery designed to gain favor
Verb
-
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
-
He palavered her into going along
-
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