People who talk a lot and boast about themselves, especially without saying anything important or true.
From 'blow' (to boast) + 'hard' (tough, strong). The term emerged in American English in the 1800s, combining the idea of 'blowing' (exaggerating) with 'hard' to suggest aggressive, relentless bragging.
This word perfectly captures a specific American personality type, and it's become so common that it's now used in politics and sports commentary constantly—there's something about the word itself that sounds like hot air!
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