Comments on: Can “blarney” be “in fine fettle”?

By: mand

mand — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:40:30 +0000

…I’ll bear that in mind, then.
Heh, heh, heh.

By: Kudzu

Kudzu — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:41:19 +0000

I recommend that no-one actually kiss the stone; I am Irish and I know what the locals do to it!!!

By: mand

mand — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:04:21 +0000

Personally i wouldn't have noticed anything odd about 'the Bergthold blarney was in fine fettle'. I use both terms all the time, esp 'in fine fettle'. I'm British, which may make a difference! Very interesting to see the other responses here, as it surprises me others aren't familiar with these words. (Readers may also like to see Douglas Harper's explanation of fettle if it loads properly, which it doesn't like to for me.) My understanding has always been that 'blarney', meaning flattery or nonsense chatter, comes from the Blarney Stone. As a tongue-tied child i used to wish i could visit and kiss that stone, cos i'd only been told the gift of the gab meant eloquence. The flattering/coaxing part wasn't mentioned. ;0)

By: Maeve

Maeve — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:20:49 +0000

Nathan,
Thanks. I seem to be committing more goofs than usual this month.
Roll on 2009!

By: Norina

Norina — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:53:47 +0000

Honestly, “in fine fettle” is not a phrase that I am familiar with, but it seems that the way it was used does not make sense. If the “blarney” was spoken to convince the DHS of Berghold’s intentions of securing a foster child, then I can’t imagine that it was “in good spirit”. That is the only interpretation of the words “in fine fettle” that could apply.