It was a beautiful day on a beautiful island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The day was warm, but the ocean breeze was refreshing and I was delighted to see the Halona Blowhole on Oahu, Hawaii. As I was enjoying the moment, a voice kept talking, and talking, and talking! My peaceful bubble was popped by this person who demanded everyone within ear shot “overhear” all of his oceanic knowledge. I thought, “Huh, what irony…a blowhard at a blowhole.” Then I started to wonder about the origins of the word blowhard. Here is what I found:

“Blowhard comes from the phrase ‘blow your own horn.’ To blow your own horn is to be a braggart or “blowhard.” This expression in the American West about the middle of the 19th century derives from an earlier expression, blow your own trumpet, dating back to at least 1576 and probably originating in medieval times, when heralds blew trumpets to announce the arrival of the king. Of course, any merchant or other commoner who wanted to announce his arrival had to blow his own horn.” (reference from Askville site)

The take-away from my blowhole experience, don’t stand downwind from the crowd if possible. This way you eliminate the blowhard at the blowhole.