Palaver

Noun

Definition: A prolonged and idle discussion or negotiation, often with a lot of talk and little action.

Synonyms: Chat, Discussion, Negotiation

Antonyms: Action, Decision

Examples:
  • The meeting turned into a useless palaver, with no decisions made.
  • We wasted hours in palaver, without achieving any concrete results.
Mnemonics:
  • "Palaver" sounds similar to "blabber," indicating idle talk.

Verb

Definition: To talk unnecessarily or at length, often in a persuasive or flattering manner.

Synonyms: Flatter, Cajole, Persuade

Antonyms: Confront, Argue, Disagree

Examples:
  • He tried to palaver his way into getting a promotion.
  • The salesman palavered the customers with compliments and exaggerated claims about the product.
Mnemonics:
  • "Palaver" can be associated with someone trying to "palm" or deceive you with words.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "palaver" originated in the late 18th century from the Portuguese "palavra," meaning "speech" or "word."

Historical Usage:

Originally used by sailors and traders to refer to discussions or negotiations carried out using a mix of Portuguese, African languages, and English.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"All talk and no palaver"

Explanation:

Refers to someone who makes a lot of promises or talks excessively without taking any action.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "palaver" (noun) with "palaver" (verb).

Explanation:

The noun form refers to discussions or negotiations, while the verb form refers to talking persuasively or flatteringly.

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