blowhard
/'blouhɑ:d/
Definition
Noun: - A person who is excessively boastful and talks in a loud, arrogant, or self-important manner, often exaggerating their own achievements or importance.
Usage
The word "blowhard" is a critical and informal term used to describe someone perceived as obnoxiously boastful. It implies that the person talks a lot but says little of substance, focusing on self-praise. It is typically used in a disapproving or contemptuous context.
Examples
- Noun:
- He's such a blowhard, always dominating the conversation with stories about his supposed business successes.
- Don't listen to that blowhard; half of what he says is exaggerated or completely untrue.
- The meeting was hijacked by a local blowhard who loved the sound of his own voice.
Advanced Usage
- "to be a blowhard": to have the characteristic of being boastful and talkative.
- He didn't used to be a blowhard, but fame changed him.
- The term often carries a connotation of insecurity, suggesting the boasting is an attempt to mask inadequacies.
Variants and Related Words
- Blowhard is a compound noun from "blow" (in the sense of expelling air, i.e., "hot air") and "hard" (suggesting intensity). There is no direct verb form "to blowhard."
- Braggart (n): a person who boasts about achievements or possessions. (A more formal synonym.)
- Windbag (n): a person who talks a lot but says little of value. (Similar in meaning, with a focus on tedious talk rather than just boasting.)
Synonyms
- Braggart
- Boaster
- Windbag
- Egotist
- Swaggerer
Antonyms
- Humble person
- Modest person
- Reticent person
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Full of hot air: Talking a lot without saying anything true or important. (This idiom captures a similar concept to "blowhard.")
- Ignore his promises; he's just full of hot air.
- To blow one's own trumpet/horn: To boast about one's own achievements. (This describes the action of a blowhard.)
- She's always blowing her own trumpet about her grades.
Noun
-
a very boastful and talkative person
