Use of the word 'fulsome'

T

TarfHead

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According the the Irish Times, John Gormley accepts the 'fulsome' apology made by an Taoiseach after his Morning Ireland gaffe.

According to the first link returned by Google ..

buttery: unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; "buttery praise"; "gave him a fulsome introduction"; "an oily sycophantic press agent"; "oleaginous hypocrisy"; "smarmy self-importance"; "the unctuous Uriah Heep"; "soapy compliments"

abundant; copious; fully developed; mature; excessively flattering (connotes insincerity); offensive to good taste; tactless

fulsomely - unctuously: in an unctuous manner

fulsomeness - unction: excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm

fulsomeness - smug self-serving earnestness

fulsomeness - The state or quality of being fulsome or showing overdone and insincere flattery

This is one word that politicians should drop from their vocabulary - it doesn't mean what they think it means ? Then again, much of what spews forth from their mouths doesn't make much sense anyway !
 
This is a word that a lot of reporters misuse. I have lost track of how many times I have read of fulsome praise or fulsome apologies...
 
I'd only ever come across the word in relation to a womans bosom previously, just goes to show how little I know....
 
I noticed after the Bloody Sunday report was published recently that the comment from the general that worked that day was "The Prime Minister made a fulsome apology and I join him in so doing."

Given the gravity of the moment, I can only presume that his words were pre-meditated - it would be difficult to accept that he didn't understand what he was saying.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10320609
 
The OP's post states that the word also means "mature" so what is wrong with a "mature apology"
 
I sigh every time I hear fulsome.

Maybe they will use profuse.........going forward..............sigh
 
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