blarney

IPA/ˈblɑːni/
IPA/ˈblɑːrni/

blarney — noun

1. pleasant but exaggerated or insincere talk that you use to charm or persuade som

1.名詞B2
釋義

pleasant but exaggerated or insincere talk that you use to charm or persuade someone, often without being completely honest about your intentions.

例句

Theo used a bit of blarney to convince the landlord to lower the rent.

blarney + to-infinitive (purpose)

Sivan's blarney helped her win the contract even though her offer was higher.

同義詞
  • flattery

    more directly about praising someone; blarney can include a story or excuse

  • smooth talk

    more informal and slightly negative, same core meaning

  • blandishment

    formal and rare; usually in plural 'blandishments'

反義詞
  • bluntness

    direct, honest speech with no attempt to charm

用法筆記

Uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a blarney' or 'blarneys'. Common in informal contexts about persuasion or sales talk.

常見錯誤

❌She gave him a blarney about the product.
✅She gave him some blarney about the product.
💡blarney is an uncountable noun; use 'some' or 'a bit of' instead of 'a'.
❌His blarneys did not impress the committee.
✅His blarney did not impress the committee.
💡blarney has no plural form.

2. a small town in County Cork, southwestern Ireland, best known as the location of

2.名詞
釋義

a small town in County Cork, southwestern Ireland, best known as the location of Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

例句

Tariro visited Blarney during her trip to Ireland last summer.

Tourists line up for hours to kiss the Blarney Stone at the castle.

the Blarney Stone + at the castle

用法筆記

Capitalized as a proper noun. The town gives its name to the abstract sense of 'blarney' (smooth talk) — legend says kissing the Blarney Stone grants the gift of persuasive speech.