1.
boaster; braggart; teller of tall tales
A person who habitually exaggerates or tells grand lies. The tone is often playful or critical rather than accusatory.
あいつはほら吹きだ。
That guy is a braggart.
彼の話は面白いけど、ほら吹きだから信じない方がいい。
His stories are interesting, but he's a teller of tall tales so you'd better not believe them.
子どもの頃、「ほら吹き男爵」という物語が大好きだった。
When I was a child, I loved the story of Baron Munchausen.
USAGE:
Derived from ほらを吹く (to blow a conch shell horn → to boast/brag). The word ほら originally referred to the conch shell (法螺) blown by mountain monks. The image of making a big loud noise evolved into meaning exaggeration and boasting.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ほらを吹く (to boast, to tell tall tales)
- ほら吹き男爵 (Baron Munchausen)
- 大ほら吹き (a great braggart)