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
That’s Digger Phelps, Irish basketball coach with similar blarney skills to Lasorda’s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2021
With his Gaelic good looks, charisma and Irish blarney, he set up a music club, the Scene, in London’s Soho district.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2020
With his penchant for poetry and blarney, the former vice president has emerged as a sort of national eulogist in chief.
From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2019
“You are right to laugh, Captain Short. For a while there, I did believe in all that under-the-rainbow crock-of-gold blarney, but now I know better. Now I know about the hostage fund.”
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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
Then I thanked her, and blarneyed her as well as I was able, although that wasn't much, as I never have been much of a hand with women.
From The Recipe for Diamonds by Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne
Without any influence whatever, save his pleasing address and his wide education, he blarneyed the State Department out of a consulate.
From The Goose Girl by Harold MacGrath
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
No creature like the one that blarneyed Mother Eve could be here!
From Attention Saint Patrick by Murray Leinster
Despite blarneying speeches by Evita, a rank & file strike started.
From Time Magazine Archive
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
"Well, my love, you have got a blarneying tongue, and no mistake; but now, when I do get to Nortonbury, what am I to do?"
From Red Rose and Tiger Lily or, In a Wider World by L. T. Meade
“Ah, now, my dear; it isn’t blarneying at all!” laughed Wyn.
From Wyn's Camping Days or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club by Amy Bell Marlowe
There was no surprise, however, in view of the nomination of Jim Irwin by the blarneying Bonner when the secretary smoothed out the first ballot, and read: “James E. Irwin, one.”
From The Brown Mouse by Herbert Quick
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