--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Malarkey opened his arms, for they were…" description: "\"“Malarkey opened his arms, for they were the ones that held Chevie, and he pushed her on to a bench. \"Tell me now, Injun, is you gonna row in, or act o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/eoin-colfer-736_big-mouth_malarkey-opened-his-arms-for-they-were-t_2304089.jpg" --- # Malarkey opened his arms, for they were the ones that held… ![“Malarkey opened his arms, for they were the ones that held Chevie, and he pushed her on to a bench. "Tell me now, Injun, is you gonna row in, or act out? If'n it's number two, then I shall brain you without delay, but if you gives me your pledge that we stand on the same bank of the river, so to…” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/eoin-colfer-736_big-mouth_malarkey-opened-his-arms-for-they-were-t_2304089.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/eoin-colfer-736_big-mouth_malarkey-opened-his-arms-for-they-were-t_2304089.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/eoin-colfer-736_big-mouth_malarkey-opened-his-arms-for-they-were-t_2304089.jpg) > ““Malarkey opened his arms, for they were the ones that held Chevie, and he pushed her on to a bench. "Tell me now, Injun, is you gonna row in, or act out? If'n it's number two, then I shall brain you without delay, but if you gives me your pledge that we stand on the same bank of the river, so to speak, then spit and shake and let's be finishing this revolution for once and for all." A long speech under the circumstances, but Otto had always been overly fond of the sound of his own voice, and Chevie understood the gist despite the unfamiliar terms. Spit and shake? She did not fancy that. "Just shake, Otto, OK? A big mouth like yours makes a lot of spit, and I've had enough disgusting liquid for one day." Otto grunted and shook, and during the shake both shakers were coincidentally thinking along identical lines. Once this is all over, we two need to have a talk about respect. "Hmph," said Otto. "Yep," said Chevie.”” [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters negotiate power through absurd rituals, highlighting communication breakdowns. **In simple terms:** Ridiculous demands mask deeper conflicts. Key Takeaway Seek clear, respectful dialogue. Themes communication power dynamics conflict resolution Mood sarcastic playful Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - team meetings - negotiations - creative brainstorming Key Concepts absurdity authority cooperation Questions to Reflect On - What underlying issue is being avoided? - How can humor be used constructively? A Different Perspective Humor may obscure serious concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mouth/) ## Related quotes > [La la, la la la la la na na na na na, La la na na, la la la la la na na na…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naughty-boy-featuring-sam-smith/la-la-la-la-la-la-la-na-na-na-na-na-la-la-na-na-la-la-la-la-la-na-na/) Naughty Boy Featuring Sam Smith > [I have a big mouth. And I'm not afraid to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/i-have-a-big-mouth-and-i-m-not-afraid-to-use-it/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [I was really, really, really skinny. Great big mouth on a little face. Just goofy-looking. More goofy than I am now. Really goofy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/i-was-really-really-really-skinny-great-big-mouth-on-a-little-face/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [If you didn't hear it with your own ears or see it with your own eyes, Don't invent it with your small mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-didn-t-hear-it-with-your-own-ears-or-see-it-with-your-own-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Conor McGregor has a big mouth. But I do love the way he fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-liddell/conor-mcgregor-has-a-big-mouth-but-i-do-love-the-way-he-fights/) [Chuck Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-liddell/) > [If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/if-you-ve-got-a-big-mouth-and-you-re-controversial-you-re-going-to/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [If you didnt see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears, dont invent it with your small mind &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rezahanapi/if-you-didnt-see-it-with-your-own-eyes-or-hear-it-with-your-own-ears/) [Rezahanapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rezahanapi/) > [I was a bit of a big mouth my whole life. I'm a person who expresses themselves with a lot of openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/i-was-a-bit-of-a-big-mouth-my-whole-life-i-m-a-person-who-expresses/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [Hey big mouth, how do you spell triple?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoeless-joe-jackson/hey-big-mouth-how-do-you-spell-triple/) Shoeless Joe Jackson > [Big mouth peoples sink ships faster then they start to Sail...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/big-mouth-peoples-sink-ships-faster-then-they-start-to-sail/) Frenchqueen > [“If you don't see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears, don't invent it with your small mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-see-it-with-your-own-eyes-or-hear-it-with-your-own-ears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Remember what the fashion big mouths were saying about Jessica Simpson? Looking at her magazine pictures, sucking their teeth, going, "Oh, look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/remember-what-the-fashion-big-mouths-were-saying-about-jessica/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [Me and my big mouth! I'd get rid of it, only it's such a handy place to keep my teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-durante/me-and-my-big-mouth-i-d-get-rid-of-it-only-it-s-such-a-handy-place-to/) [Jimmy Durante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-durante/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) ## More by Eoin Colfer > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More Big mouth quotes > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [Me and my big mouth! I'd get rid of it, only it's such a handy place to keep my teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-durante/me-and-my-big-mouth-i-d-get-rid-of-it-only-it-s-such-a-handy-place-to/) [Jimmy Durante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-durante/) > [“Remember what the fashion big mouths were saying about Jessica Simpson? Looking at her magazine pictures, sucking their teeth, going, "Oh, look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/remember-what-the-fashion-big-mouths-were-saying-about-jessica/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“If you don't see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears, don't invent it with your small mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-see-it-with-your-own-eyes-or-hear-it-with-your-own-ears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Big mouth peoples sink ships faster then they start to Sail...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/big-mouth-peoples-sink-ships-faster-then-they-start-to-sail/) Frenchqueen > [Hey big mouth, how do you spell triple?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoeless-joe-jackson/hey-big-mouth-how-do-you-spell-triple/) Shoeless Joe Jackson > [I was a bit of a big mouth my whole life. I'm a person who expresses themselves with a lot of openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/i-was-a-bit-of-a-big-mouth-my-whole-life-i-m-a-person-who-expresses/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [If you didnt see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears, dont invent it with your small mind &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rezahanapi/if-you-didnt-see-it-with-your-own-eyes-or-hear-it-with-your-own-ears/) [Rezahanapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rezahanapi/) > [If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/if-you-ve-got-a-big-mouth-and-you-re-controversial-you-re-going-to/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [Conor McGregor has a big mouth. But I do love the way he fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-liddell/conor-mcgregor-has-a-big-mouth-but-i-do-love-the-way-he-fights/) [Chuck Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-liddell/) > [If you didn't hear it with your own ears or see it with your own eyes, Don't invent it with your small mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-didn-t-hear-it-with-your-own-ears-or-see-it-with-your-own-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was really, really, really skinny. Great big mouth on a little face. Just goofy-looking. More goofy than I am now. Really goofy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/i-was-really-really-really-skinny-great-big-mouth-on-a-little-face/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [I have a big mouth. And I'm not afraid to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/i-have-a-big-mouth-and-i-m-not-afraid-to-use-it/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [As a human being with notoriety and a big mouth, I've felt most threatened during the first Bush Administration. Whenever there's a Bush in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/as-a-human-being-with-notoriety-and-a-big-mouth-i-ve-felt-most/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) [Browse all 121 Big mouth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mouth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Malarkey opened his arms, for they were the ones that held Chevie, and he pushed her on to a bench. \"Tell me now, Injun, is you gonna row in, or act out? If'n it's number two, then I shall brain you without delay, but if you gives me your pledge that we stand on the same bank of the river, so to speak, then spit and shake and let's be finishing this revolution for once and for all.\" A long speech under the circumstances, but Otto had always been overly fond of the sound of his own voice, and Chevie understood the gist despite the unfamiliar terms. Spit and shake? She did not fancy that. \"Just shake, Otto, OK? A big mouth like yours makes a lot of spit, and I've had enough disgusting liquid for one day.\" Otto grunted and shook, and during the shake both shakers were coincidentally thinking along identical lines. 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