blarney

[ blahr-nee ]

noun

1. flattering or wheedling talk; cajolery.
2. deceptive or misleading talk; nonsense; hooey:

   a lot of blarney about why he was broke.

verb (used with or without object)

, blar·neyed, blar·ney·ing.

1. to flatter or wheedle; use blarney:

   He blarneys his boss with the most shameless compliments.

blarney

/ ˈblɑːnɪ /

noun

1. flattering talk

verb

1. to cajole with flattery; wheedle

blarney

1. Smooth, flattering talk, often nonsensical or deceptive. Based on an Irish legend that those who kiss the Blarney Stone will become skilled in flattery.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blarney¹

First recorded in 1760–70; after the hamlet Blarney, in Ireland; Blarney stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of blarney¹

C19: after the Blarney Stone

Example Sentences

By the time we made it up to the club the rain had eased off and a band, The Blarney's, played to a sea of orange jerseys on the pitch.

From BBC

Malachy McCourt, who fled a melancholic childhood in Ireland for America, where he applied his blarney and brogue to become something of a professional Irishman as a thespian, a barkeep and a best-selling memoirist, died on Monday in Manhattan.

From New York Times

The man known for his charm and Irish blarney — a gift for the gab — was an ardent advocate of stronger U.S.-Canadian relations.

From Seattle Times

Biden suffers — unfairly — by comparison with Donald Trump, thanks to Trump’s purported business acumen and the many Americans who buy his blarney about how he created “the greatest economy in history.”

From Los Angeles Times

At moments like this, there was always a twinkle in his eye, showing what former Times columnist Chris Erskine once called his “Pennsylvania blarney.”

From Los Angeles Times