From Zhu Xi's 《朱子语类·论语三》 (Song dynasty): '巧言即今所谓花言巧语' — 'what the Analects calls 巧言 (clever speech) is what we today call 花言巧语'. Zhu Xi links the idiom to Confucius' warning about 巧言令色 (clever words and an ingratiating face).
usage
Always negative — implies deception. Compare the neutral 口才 ('eloquence') or positive 能言善辩 ('articulate'). Commonly collocates with 骗, 哄, 蒙.
