WordGarden.ioblather
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /blˈɑːðə/
US
- /ˈblæðər/
Meanings
Verb
to talk at length in a foolish or pointless way
Noun
foolish or pointless talk
Beyond the definition
If someone blathers about something, they talk for a long time without making much sense—often boasting or being silly while doing so. Think of it as empty chatter. A politician might blather about promises they can't keep, or an overenthusiastic friend might blather about their weekend plans with excessive detail. It's not just talking; it's talking without substance. You wouldn't expect a wise old owl to blather—you might expect a mischievous squirrel to do so, though.
To blather means to talk at length in a rambling, foolish, or empty way. It suggests excessive and often meaningless chatter, lacking clear purpose or intelligence. The word carries a slightly negative connotation—it implies the speaker isn't being particularly insightful or helpful and might even be trying to impress with "hot air."
The origin of blather is uncertain, but older forms point to the idea of noisy, foolish talk. This suggests that blathering is like letting out a lot of wind—lots of sound but little substance. You might say someone "is full of blather," meaning they talk nonsense, or describe their speech as "blatherskite," a colorful term used for both foolish talk and the person who speaks it.
While it can simply mean to talk at length (like a guest who blathers on after dinner), the word often implies boastfulness or silliness. A character in a novel might be described as "prone to blathering about his accomplishments," suggesting he exaggerates and talks endlessly about himself. It's rarely used to describe serious, thoughtful conversation.
So, if you encounter someone who's talking a lot but saying very little of value, they are likely blathering. Be warned: listening to too much blather can be exhausting!
Examples
- 1
Meeting talk
He kept blathering through the meeting, and nobody knew what he was trying to say.
- 2
Long conversation
My uncle can blather on about football for hours.
- Patternblather on about + topic
keep talking too much about it
- 3
Direct request
Stop blathering and tell me what happened.
- 4
Political talk
The article cuts through the usual political blather and explains the issue clearly.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- blathernounverb