blither
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈblɪðə/
ipa: /ˈblɪðəɹ/
rhymes: -ɪðə(ɹ)
Forms: form: blithers
Etymology: The verb is a variant of blether (Northern England, Scotland), blather (“to say (something foolish or nonsensical); to say (something) in a foolish or overly verbose way; to babble (something); to talk rapidly without making much sense; to cry loudly, blubber”), from Middle English bloderen, blotheren (“to babble; to cry loudly, blubber”), from Old Norse blaðra (“to talk foolishly or inarticulately”), from blaðr (“nonsense”); further etymology uncertain.
The noun is a variant of blether, blather (“foolish or nonsensical talk”), either from blether, blather (verb), or from Old Norse blaðr (“nonsense”): see above.
Senses: examples: text: He also knows if the work of the lyric poet be simply "stringin' blithers together, for fools to sing," that a very large percentage of the literary work of the world has been done in vain and this can by no means be admitted.
ref: 1883, D[avid] R[ussell] McAnally, “Our English Songs”, in The Philosophy of English Poetry, Columbia, Mo.: Missouri University, →OCLC, page 131:
text: To speak about the product of his labour being 'unearned' is equivalent to bathing in a sea of blither. There is no such thing as unearned increment in the product of labour at the point where meat, or wheat, or butter leaves the hands of the producer, for its exchange value represents his wages.
ref: 1915 July 6, William Ferguson Massey, “Regulation of Trade and Commerce Amendment Bill [Third Reading]”, in New Zealand. Parliamentary Debates. First Session, Nineteenth Parliament. […] (House of Representatives), volume 172, Wellington: John Mackay, government printer, →OCLC, page 173, column 1:
text: "There's a lot of blither talked about women's economic independence today, but the real reason that drives them into offices and factories is to escape from the kitchen."
ref: 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 170:
text: I'll get up and do a blither into the videotape. And then I'll play it back and look at it. Is that the best I can do? Am I communicating with my body, verbally, intellectually?
ref: 1989, Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, “How to Try a Jury Case: A Lawyer’s View”, in John G[eorge] Koeltl, editor, The Litigation Manual: A Primer for Trial Lawyers, 2nd edition, Chicago, Ill.: [ABA Publishing for the] Section of Litigation, American Bar Association, →ISBN, epilogue, page 1209:
text: Your news, or lack of, is the subject at hand. I'm sure you know, Mr. Acton, that I didn't expect a screed. I can't abide pages of blither.
ref: 2022, Frances Liardet, Think of Me, New York, N.Y.: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons, →ISBN, page 190:
glosses: Foolish or nonsensical talk; blather; (countable) an instance of this.
examples: text: Indeed, it was Mr. Buck's private opinion that in the matter of plants and flowers Sir John and Lady Moulter were "a pair of old blithers."
ref: 1896, Benjamin Swift [pseudonym; William Romaine Paterson], “Runs between Abbeylands and the Haws”, in Nancy Noon […], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 42:
text: Little Miss Cricket pointed a thicket, prompting the birds to stay. When along came a blither who fired right beside her and frightened Miss Cricket away. Yes, that'll do nicely. And as for a blither, Webster tells us that's an idiot. And it's idiots who make gun-shy dogs.
ref: 1980 August, Bill Tarrant, “Why the Gun-shy Dog?”, in Jack Samson, editor, Field & Stream, volume LXXXV, number 4, New York, N.Y.: CBS Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 114, column 1:
text: 'But I like my breasts better without a corset,' I huffed at her. 'You may like them better, but so will the hundreds of blithers hanging 'round them docks. Now, come over here so I can lace you up and get you into this dress. The sooner you get it done, the dooner you will be back in bed.'
ref: 2024, J. L. Martin, chapter 12, in The Golden Glow (Samsara—The First Season; 1), [Los Gatos, Calif.]: Time Travellers Publishing House, →ISBN:
synonyms: word: alcatote
word: asshat
word: arsehole
word: asshole
word: bayard
word: berk
word: birdbrain
word: blither
word: bobchin
word: bonehead
word: bozo
word: buffoon
word: brickhead
word: Charlie
word: chucklehead
word: chowderhead
word: chump
word: clart
word: clown
word: der-brain
word: dill pickle
word: dim bulb
word: dingleberry
word: dipshit
word: dipstick
word: dirtbrain
word: div
word: divvo
word: divvy
word: dolt
word: donk
word: doodle
word: doofus
word: dope
word: dork
word: dote
word: dotterel
word: dullard
word: dumbass
word: dumbbell
word: dumb fuck
word: dummy
word: dunce
word: dunderhead
word: dupe
word: fathead
word: fenderhead
word: fiddle
word: fuckwit
word: fuzznut
word: geck
word: gig
word: gink
word: goober
word: gooseberry
word: gowk
word: gubbins
word: gump
word: ha'p'orth
word: Homer Simpson
word: ignoramus
word: imbecile
word: jamoke
word: jerk
word: jerkoff
word: jolterhead
word: jolthead
word: juggins
word: jughead
word: knucklehead
word: lamebrain
word: mameluke (US (Italian-American)
word: slang)
word: maroon
word: meathead
word: mong
word: moron
word: mug
word: muggins
word: mushhead
word: nimrod
word: nincompoop
word: nit
word: nitwit
word: not the sharpest knife in the drawer
word: numskull
word: numps
word: numpty
word: nupson
word: oaf
word: pillock
word: pinhead
word: plonker
word: prat
word: retard
word: shit for brains
word: shithead
word: shitwit
word: schmo
word: schmuck
word: snapperhead
word: softhead
word: sot
word: stupid
word: sucker
word: thickhead
word: tonto
word: tool
word: tosser
word: tosspot
word: twat
word: twerp
word: twit
word: wally
word: wantwit
word: wazzock
word: yampy
glosses: A foolish person; a fool, an idiot.