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
- The meeting turned into a useless palaver, with no decisions made.
- We wasted hours in palaver, without achieving any concrete results.
- "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
- He tried to palaver his way into getting a promotion.
- The salesman palavered the customers with compliments and exaggerated claims about the product.
- "Palaver" can be associated with someone trying to "palm" or deceive you with words.
Etymology:
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:
"All talk and no palaver"
Explanation:Refers to someone who makes a lot of promises or talks excessively without taking any action.
Misconceptions:
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.