noun
Refers to exaggerated stories or self-praise. Often used in the phrase ほらを吹く (to boast/tell tall tales).
彼はいつもほらを吹いてばかりいる。
He's always bragging.
その話はどうせほらだろう。
That story is probably just a tall tale.
noun
conch; trumpet shell
Abbreviation of 法螺貝 (ほらがい). Refers to the shell itself, especially the Triton's trumpet. This is the original meaning but now rare outside of specific contexts.
See also: 法螺貝
法螺貝は「ほら」と略されることがある。
法螺貝 is sometimes abbreviated to ほら.
Originally an abbreviation of 法螺貝 (ほらがい, 'conch shell'). The 'boasting' sense likely developed from the image of blowing a conch shell loudly, metaphorically referring to making grandiose claims.