noun
C2
Proficient
blurb
blurb
Blurb (noun) means a short promotional description of a book, film or product, especially the one printed on a cover or posted online. Example: “The blurb on the back gives away half the plot.”
noun
1
A short promotional description of a book, film or product, especially the one printed on a cover or posted online.
"The blurb on the back gives away half the plot."
"Can you write a hundred-word blurb for the newsletter?"
2
A short quotation of praise from a well-known person, printed to recommend a book or product.
"Two prize-winning novelists gave her debut a blurb."
verb
1
informal To write or supply such a promotional description or endorsement.
"He has blurbed almost every thriller published this year."
How to use blurb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe short advertising description on the back of a book.
When to use it
Informal in tone but standard in publishing, marketing and journalism.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
back-cover blurb
write a blurb
a glowing blurb
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The _____ on the back gives away half the plot.
Etymology
An early twentieth-century American coinage, widely credited to the humorist Gelett Burgess, who used it of the gushing praise printed on book jackets.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for blurb
See all rhymes for blurb →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a blurb and a synopsis?
A blurb is marketing copy that hints at the story and withholds the ending in order to tempt a reader to buy. A synopsis is a full summary, usually written for agents, publishers or students, that reveals the whole plot including how it resolves.
How long should a book blurb be?
Most back-cover and online blurbs run to between one hundred and two hundred words, in two or three short paragraphs. The aim is a hook, a sense of the central conflict, and a reason to keep reading, not a complete account of the plot.
What is the meaning of blurb?
"blurb" (noun) means a short promotional description of a book, film or product, especially the one printed on a cover or posted online.
What is another word for blurb?
Other words for "blurb" include description, write-up, summary, teaser, copy, indorsement.
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