A person who habitually tells exaggerated stories or boasts. Often used in a mildly derogatory or teasing way. The term derives from ほら (tall tale) + 吹く (to blow), literally 'one who blows tall tales'.
See also: 洞
He's a braggart, so you'd better take what he says with a grain of salt.
Don't believe what that big talker says.
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling.
Katakana variant of the first part, sometimes used for emphasis.
Full kanji spelling using 法螺 (conch shell, metaphor for tall tales). Rare in modern writing.
Compound of ほら (tall tale, from the image of blowing a conch shell to make a big sound) + 吹き (continuative form of 吹く 'to blow'). The metaphor is 'blowing' exaggerated stories.