flannelling
Talking without substance
Flannelling is talking at length without saying much—filling time with vague, evasive, or meaningless speech.
The term is chiefly British, suggesting someone who wraps empty words in a soft, comfortable delivery: The minister spent twenty minutes flannelling about budget priorities without committing to anything.
Also spelled flanneling.
Gridded breakfast cake
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- obfuscateMake unclear intentionally
- stonewallRefuse to cooperate
filibuster · hedge · equivocate · dodge · ramble · bluster · padding · verbosity
Persuading through flattery
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- cajoleryFlattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
- soft-soapPersuade through flattery
schmoozing · wheedling · ingratiation · persuasion · charming · smooth-talking · blarney · sycophancy
waffle
Gridded breakfast cake
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- obfuscateMake unclear intentionally
stonewall · filibuster · hedge · equivocate · dodge · ramble · bluster · padding · verbosity · circumlocution
sweet-talking
Persuading through flattery
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- cajoleryFlattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
soft-soap · schmoozing · wheedling · ingratiation · persuasion · charming · smooth-talking · blarney · sycophancy · fawning
cotton
Plant fiber for textiles
tartan · check · twill · shirting · nightwear · bedding · swaddling · softness · warmth · lining
washcloth
Small bathing cloth
wipe · rinse · exfoliate · sponge · cleanse · buff · polish · bathing · toweling · dabbing
flannellingspeaking frankly
Communicating without evasion
cutting to the chase · getting to the point · telling it like it is · levelling · speaking one's mind