Ever heard the word ‘blare’ used to describe someones eyes? See Chitter’s face in the pic above-when she looks at me like that I say “Don’t blare your eyes at me.”
I’ve heard blare used in relation to someones eyes my entire life. Another example-Pap might say “Now he was hot. He looked up there at them, blared his eyes, and said “No Sir that ain’t gonna happen here!”
I checked my Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English to see if the word was listed there-it’s not. I did find it on this website: Jim McManners – Ferryhill/Cassop C20/mid. Mr. McManners has compiled a list of words he heard used in the 50s and 60s when he was growing up in England. Only in his area of the UK the word is used to mean cry-as in “She blared her eyes out after she lost her dog.”
After I started thinking about the word-I tested my girls and one of their friends. I asked them “If I told you not to blare your eyes at me would you know what I meant?” They all 3 said yes-and all agreed I would be telling them not to cut their eyes at me or give me a dirty look.
So the use of the word blare in relation to eyes is alive and well in Brasstown NC-what about where you live?
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
38 Comments
Barry
November 22, 2019 at 9:50 amYep, I’ve heard it in North Alabama
Whitney Ferrell
March 14, 2018 at 9:31 pmMy mom says it. I’m from Pike County, KY.
Ruth Pasley
March 2, 2013 at 10:14 pmGlare was the
word in my neck of the woods (Eastern Ky.)
Becky
January 29, 2012 at 9:10 amNope, haven’t heard that one before.
RB
January 28, 2012 at 10:43 pmHeard evil eye, but not blaring eye.
God bless.
RB
<><
Lonnie L. Dockery
January 23, 2012 at 2:23 pmOh, yeah! I know that one…and Bobby C. we used “waul” too!
Tim Cuthbertson
January 23, 2012 at 10:06 amI have never heard this particular expression, but I often hear my sister-in-law tell her sons, “Don’t stick your eyes out at me.” I’m sure it refers to the same thing, and I’ve never heard anyone else say it.
Ethel
January 23, 2012 at 6:14 amI’ve never heard that one, but I sure have seen it a number of times!
lynn legge
January 23, 2012 at 12:51 amlol i love that look.. remember it well.. with my two daughters.. never used that word.. but my mom just said.. dont you look at me like that .. so guess i got the message across… heh
hope you are warm and safe.. we have had some strange weather here.. snow.. ice.. sleet.. ugh
big ladybug hugs and have a great week
lynn
Suzi Phillips
January 22, 2012 at 11:45 pmThis is so funny! Everytime Mitchell & I have a disagreement he says, “Now don’t you blare them eyes at me!” I had never heard it before I met him, but it needed no translation. It also leads to more blaring!
Vicki Lane
January 22, 2012 at 11:01 pmA great phrase — but I’ve never heard it. Makes perfect sense though.
David Templeton
January 22, 2012 at 9:27 pmMy Mother: “Don’t you look at me in that tone of voice!” (sounds like something Sade Gook would have said to Victor R. Gook)
Bobby C
January 22, 2012 at 6:24 pmWe’ve always used blare here. My family also says, “Don’t waul them eyes!”…where most folks would say “Don’t roll your eyes”. Not sure about the spelling on that one, but pronounced like wall. More Mountain English. I love it!
Ron Banks
January 22, 2012 at 5:24 pmYep, know it well! When I blare my eyes at my kids they know they are pushing their luck! How about this one, she stared a hole through me! Looks are at times more powerful than words!
Ron
Sassy
January 22, 2012 at 4:06 pmNever heard that one, but it does make sense when you think of something blaring (very loud). Her eyes spoke loud and clear!
When we were youngin’s my parents were much like the comedian Bill Cosby depicted. My mom would say don’t glare at me, look down when I speak to you. The next time, we might look down to beat her to sayin’ it and she’d say, look at me when I’m talking to you little girl. It was quite confusing :/
Rachel
January 22, 2012 at 3:36 pmI’ve heard that one but it’s been a long time. My mother has said it to me!
Special Ed
January 22, 2012 at 2:56 pmBarry-I’ve heard Brar and Blar used for brier too. In fact the only time I use brar with it’s proper pronunciation is in singing the old ballad Barbara Ellen (Allen) and then only because it doesn’t rhyme with choir. Although I imagine you could pronounce choir quar.
Tipper-Does the Blind Pig Gang do Barbara Ellen? I’d love to hear it.
Ed Myers
January 22, 2012 at 2:50 pmNever heard it used this way, but I will from now on.
Uncle Al
January 22, 2012 at 2:27 pmOh yes, I’ve heard that phrase many times….probably more than I should have. 🙂
John
January 22, 2012 at 2:22 pmBlare is still used to mean ‘cry’ in England. Don’t think there’s an equivalent to your word.
B f
January 22, 2012 at 2:19 pmsorta like “blazed”huh? someone sent a child to get do-nuts , told him to get glazed , from then on they were “blazed”
yes i have heard them all ,i,m old school, older than dirt before it made a rock
Be blessed
Carol Isler
January 22, 2012 at 2:12 pmAll I had to see was this headline on my iPhone and I laughed and laughed. Momma used to say that to me all the time. Apparently I was bad to blare. I’m still laughing.
Mary Shipman
January 22, 2012 at 1:59 pmThat was a new one to me. Closest I can come from our local speech is “Don’t you flare up like that and have a hissy fit”
Miss Cindy
January 22, 2012 at 1:49 pmWhen I saw the title of this post I knew there would be a picture of Chitter there.
It’s what she does so well. I think of it a yelling with your eyes and Chitter’s got it down pat!
Carol Blanton
January 22, 2012 at 1:36 pmRaised in the Blue Ridge I know one thing I better not hear my mother say Carol Ann don’t blare them eyes at me. Blaring was not good where I came from.
B. Ruth
January 22, 2012 at 1:27 pmTipper,
My Granmother said, “blare”…I always thought she mean’t
“glare”…bless her little heart!
Of course someone could “Stare” then “Glare” and then “Blare” all in one movement of the eyes…I “sware” I can’t “bare” to “stare” or “glare” or “blare” ’cause it makes my “nostrils flare”…
Quothe the sayer..B.Ruth
Thanks Tipper,
Great post…
I think Jim is right!
martina
January 22, 2012 at 1:24 pmI understood immediately what you meant. Sort of like talk loudly-using your eyes.
Mom has what we call “patented freeze ray 403.9”. She can look at you with a quick steely nonblinking stare and you freeze in place. It even worked on an unhelpful clerk at a store. He froze for a second and then immediately became more polite and helpful.
Donna W
January 22, 2012 at 1:06 pmNever heard of this word used like that.
Shirla
January 22, 2012 at 1:06 pmIt was definitely used often where I came from. We also used blare to describe the look in someone’s eyes when they experienced fear, disbelief and other emotions.
Angie
January 22, 2012 at 1:04 pmI have heard the term “don’t GLARE your eyes at me” and found this meaning…
The noun GLARE has 3 senses:
1. great brightness
2. an angry stare
3. a focus of public attention
Familiarity information: GLARE used as a noun is uncommon.
• GLARE(verb)
The verb GLARE has 3 senses:
1. look at with a fixed gaze
2. be sharply reflected
3. shine intensely
When I have used the term Glare – I meant it to mean,- Don’t look at me in an angry state.
So, I guess I at least used it in it’s proper text.
Angie
Pam Moore
January 22, 2012 at 12:37 pmPerhaps “blare” comes from the word “glare”. Around here we would say that “she’s giving you the stink eye”.
She’s a beautiful girl.
Pam
Bill Burnett
January 22, 2012 at 12:03 pmI’ve heard Blare and Glare used interchangably to describe a look of dissatisfaction, usually an intense reaction to something someone has said or done. Related to another statement “Her look spoke volumes”. I usually used the “Look” when I knew that actually speaking my piece could bring on a “Whupping”, the “Blare” or “Look” sometimes brought on the same results as my Dad was very good at discerning what the “Blare” meant.
Barry
January 22, 2012 at 11:54 amHeard that term since I was little. My folks used it to mean widening your eyes as if surprised or being sarcastic.
Also, people around here say Blar instaed of brier, which I have to admit that I don’t care for.
Everyone around here also refers to Vienna sausages as Vie-einnies.
Don’t care for that one either but when I call them by their name, its always a big stink. At my age, I don’t eat them anymore unless its on the river bank or in the boat while we’re fishing.
Sheryl Paul
January 22, 2012 at 11:35 amI’ve never heard it, but knew right away what you meant. Very expressive word,
Jim Casada
January 22, 2012 at 11:28 amTipper–I wonder if “blare” is a bastardization of “flare”? Flare is a way of pronouncing flower and wide-open eyes would be like a flower in full bloom. I’ve never heard blare although “don’t roll your eyes at me” runs as a steady thread through my memory. In fact our daughter got in serious trouble for “rolling her eyes” at a teacher when she was a fifth daughter, and now her daughter is sometimes wont to roll her eyes.
I’d make an educated guess that you’ve seen a bit of that out of Chitter and Chatter.
Jim Casada
http://www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com
Ken
January 22, 2012 at 11:24 amTipper,
Now you got to admit, she’s still
purdy. I think every parent has
said something to make their kids
blair their eyes at them. That look can be a look of astonishment
cause they’re in another world, most of the time…Ken
Special Ed
January 22, 2012 at 11:22 amI’ve heard the term “blare your eyes” used all my life. In fact just yesterday. In my dictionary blare refers to sounds not sight. But, if a people can speak with their eyes, why not speak forcefully, i.e. blare.
susie swanson
January 22, 2012 at 10:38 amYep, it’s a popular word at my house..Hope You have a nice Sunday..Susie