Word of the Day

Tuesday, July 30, 2002

fanfaronade

\fan-fair-uh-NAYD; -NOD\ , noun;

Swaggering; empty boasting; blustering manner or behavior; ostentatious display.

Fanfare.

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Quotes:

George Manahan made his debut this week as music director of New York City Opera, and it is difficult to imagine someone laying claim to a major podium with less of a fanfaronade.

-- Justin Davidson, "A Director's Toil Pays Some Dividends", Newsday, September 21, 1996

But like a demure singer in a long gown who is surrounded by chorus girls in sequined miniskirts, the statue may seem slightly lost amid the fanfaronade.

-- Richard Stengel, "Rockets will glare and bands blare to celebrate the statue", Time, July 7, 1986

Origin:

Fanfaronade derives from Spanish fanfarronada, from fanfarrón, "braggart," from Arabic farfar, "garrulous."