blurb

blurb
blurb used by U.S. scholar Brander Matthews (1852-1929) in 1906 in "American Character;" popularized 1907 by U.S. humorist Frank Gelett Burgess (1866-1951). Originally mocking excessive praise printed on book jackets.
Gelett Burgess, whose recent little book, "Are You a Bromide?" has been referred to above, then entertained the guests with some characteristic flashes of Burgessian humor. Referring to the word "blurb" on the wrapper of his book he said: "To 'blurb' is to make a sound like a publisher. The blurb was invented by Frank A. Munsey when he wrote on the front of his magazine in red ink 'I consider this number of Munsey's the hottest pie that ever came out of my bakery.' ... A blurb is a check drawn on Fame, and it is seldom honored.["] ["Publishers' Weekly," May 18, 1907]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • blurb — [blɜːb ǁ blɜːrb] noun [countable usually singular] informal MARKETING a short piece of writing describing and advertising a book, film, or a new product: • The blurb for her latest book describes her as one of Britain s best loved art critics . * …   Financial and business terms

  • blurb — blurb·ist; blurb; …   English syllables

  • blurb — ☆ blurb [blʉrb ] n. [coined ( c. 1907) by BURGESS (Frank) Gelett, for “self praise, to make a noise like a publisher”] an advertisement or announcement, as on a book jacket, esp. one that is highly laudatory vi. Informal to state in a blurb …   English World dictionary

  • Blurb — bezeichnet: Klappentext auf Buchumschägen eine von Simon Vinkenoog in Paris gegründete Zeitschrift Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselb …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Blurb — er den korte beskrivelse af en bog, som normalt er trykt på bogens omslag. Udtrykket blev skabt af den amerikanske forfatter F.G. Burgess (1866 1951) …   Danske encyklopædi

  • blurb — [blə:b US blə:rb] n [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: An invented word] a short description giving information about a book, new product etc …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • blurb — [ blɜrb ] noun singular information printed on the outside of something, especially something for sale such as a book, to describe it or make it attractive to buy …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • blurb — puff, review, critique, *criticism …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • blurb — ► NOUN ▪ a short promotional description of a book, film, or other product. ORIGIN coined by the American humorist Gelett Burgess (died 1951) …   English terms dictionary

  • Blurb — A blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually referring to the words on the back of the book but also commonly seen on DVD and video cases, web portals and news websites. TodayA blurb on a book or a film …   Wikipedia

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