noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of blarney
First recorded in 1760–70; after the hamlet Blarney, in Ireland; see Blarney stone
Explanation
Blarney refers to smooth, flattering talk and actions meant to win someone over, like when someone sweet-talks their way into getting an extra dessert. The word blarney comes from Blarney Castle in Ireland, where kissing the Blarney Stone is said to give the gift of persuasive speech. This term describes gentle and flattering words used to charm or influence someone. An example of blarney could be telling your friend they make the best cookies ever, hoping they'll bake more for you. Politicians are often known for their blarney, using it to gain support and votes.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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 ● Feb. 29, 2024
“Joyride,” a grievously schematic blend of odd-couple comedy and life-affirming road movie, traverses the Irish countryside with a small degree of charm and a boatload of blarney.
From New York Times ● Dec. 22, 2022
And there is a little whimsy, or perhaps a touch of blarney, in “Belfast,” though you can sense Branagh hard at work, straining to keep every impulse toward cutesiness in check.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2021
My primary form of self-care was the constant generation of blarney.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 21, 2019
Well, of course, Maniac knew that most if not all of that was blarney, and, just to make sure, he watched the ball extra carefully.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
But their handiwork caught the eye of another Democrat, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who had come into the Nixon White House as a presidential assistant, and who blarneyed Nixon into endorsing the idea.
From Time Magazine Archive
She presented Joy-of-Life with a banana which she had blarneyed from our Italian fruit-vender, and gave me a little jar of cream, begged or bullied from the milkman in the early dawn.
From Sigurd Our Golden Collie and Other Comrades of the Road by Katharine Lee Bates
No creature like the one that blarneyed Mother Eve could be here!
From Attention Saint Patrick by Murray Leinster
They blarneyed me up and they blarneyed me down, and they said nobody could cook like Paddy.
From On the Firing Line by Hamilton Brock Fuller
Then we argued among ourselves, coaxed, blarneyed, persuaded, and tried to bribe one another.
From The Ivory Trail by Talbot Mundy
Despite blarneying speeches by Evita, a rank & file strike started.
From Time Magazine Archive
"A husband can show his consideration without blarneying," remarked Mrs. Watterly coldly.
From He Fell in Love with His Wife by Edward Payson Roe
You don't mean what you say one bit, and it is a relief to me to know that it is all flummery--you silly, hot-pated, blarneying Pat!
From My Lords of Strogue, Vol. I (of III) A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union by Lewis Wingfield
And Mrs. Lascelles gets off and goes to discoursin' and blarneying wid 'em: and Oi sees Mr. Forsyth glancin' round and lookin' oneasy.
From Tales of Trail and Town by Bret Harte
Waiting for their turn, the fish-women were blarneying with customs men or idlers who stood about looking at the big fish with the curiosity of landlubbers.
From Mayflower (Flor de mayo) A Tale of the Valencian Seashore by Arthur Livingston
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