Idioms are vibrant, figurative expressions that add color and flair to conversations, particularly when describing the act of speaking, whether it’s eloquent, awkward, secretive, or bold. These phrases capture the essence of communication—its power, its nuances, or its pitfalls—using imaginative language that makes discussions about speech more engaging, relatable, and often laced with humor or insight.
In this extensive listicle, we’ll explore 57 idioms related to speaking, decoding their meanings and illustrating their use with examples. Whether you’re looking to spice up your dialogue, describe a talkative friend, or articulate the art of conversation, this guide will flow through the world of speaking-related idioms like a well-delivered speech. Let’s clear our throats and dive into the world of words!
What is an Idiom for Speaking?
Idioms for speaking are figurative phrases that describe the act, style, or impact of verbal communication, using vivid language to convey clarity, emotion, or the dynamics of conversation. These expressions make discussions about speaking more dynamic, relatable, and often carry a sense of wit, caution, or cultural resonance. Below, we’ll unpack each idiom, its meaning, and how it can be seamlessly integrated into everyday conversations.
Idioms for Speaking
1. Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret or confidential information.
In a Sentence: Unable to contain her excitement, she spilled the beans about the surprise party, her eager words letting the cat out of the bag before the big reveal.
2. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: To disclose a secret, often accidentally.
In a Sentence: He let the cat out of the bag during the meeting, his careless mention of the merger plans shocking colleagues who were supposed to be kept in the dark.
3. Speak Your Mind
Meaning: To express your thoughts or opinions openly and honestly.
In a Sentence: Encouraged by the supportive atmosphere, she spoke her mind at the town hall, her candid words sparking a lively debate about community priorities.
4. Hold Your Tongue
Meaning: To refrain from speaking or stay silent, especially to avoid trouble.
In a Sentence: Though tempted to argue, he held his tongue during the heated discussion, his restraint preventing an escalation that could have soured the family gathering.
5. Bite Your Tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something inappropriate or offensive.
In a Sentence: She bit her tongue when her boss made a questionable decision, her silence preserving her professionalism despite her urge to voice her disagreement.
6. Put Your Foot in Your Mouth
Meaning: To say something embarrassing or tactless by mistake.
In a Sentence: He put his foot in his mouth by joking about her new haircut, his thoughtless comment causing an awkward silence at the otherwise cheerful dinner party.
7. Speak of the Devil
Meaning: Said when someone you were just talking about appears unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: Speak of the devil, there’s John now, walking into the café just as we were discussing his latest adventure, his timing as uncanny as ever.
8. Talk the Talk
Meaning: To speak confidently about something, often implying the need to back it up with action.
In a Sentence: She talked the talk about leading the project, her bold promises convincing the team, but now she needed to prove she could deliver results.
9. Walk the Talk
Meaning: To back up words with actions, proving what you say.
In a Sentence: He didn’t just talk about helping the community; he walked the talk, spending weekends volunteering to build homes for those in need, earning everyone’s respect.
10. Run Your Mouth
Meaning: To talk excessively or carelessly, often causing trouble.
In a Sentence: She ran her mouth about the company’s plans, her reckless chatter spreading rumors that reached the competitors before the official announcement.
11. Tongue-Tied
Meaning: Unable to speak clearly or at all due to nervousness or shyness.
In a Sentence: Faced with her crush, he became tongue-tied, his usually quick wit faltering as he stammered through a conversation that left him blushing profusely.
12. Loose Lips Sink Ships
Meaning: Careless talk can lead to disastrous consequences.
In a Sentence: During the war, they warned that loose lips sink ships, reminding everyone to keep sensitive information quiet to protect the mission and save lives.
13. Speak Volumes
Meaning: To convey a lot of information or emotion without words or through subtle means.
In a Sentence: Her silence during the argument spoke volumes, her expressive eyes revealing more about her disappointment than any words could ever convey.
14. Talk a Mile a Minute
Meaning: To speak very quickly and enthusiastically.
In a Sentence: Excited about her trip, she talked a mile a minute, her rapid-fire stories about the sights and sounds of Paris leaving her friends dizzy with details.
15. Have a Word
Meaning: To speak briefly or privately with someone, often to address an issue.
In a Sentence: The teacher had a word with the student after class, her gentle conversation addressing his tardiness and encouraging him to manage his time better.
16. Give Someone an Earful
Meaning: To scold or talk angrily to someone at length.
In a Sentence: Frustrated by the delays, she gave the contractor an earful, her passionate complaints about missed deadlines echoing through the unfinished building site.
17. All Talk and No Action
Meaning: Someone who speaks confidently but fails to act on their words.
In a Sentence: He was all talk and no action, his grand promises of starting a business fading as he spent more time boasting than taking steps to make it happen.
18. Beat Around the Bush
Meaning: To avoid speaking directly about a topic, often to delay or soften the truth.
In a Sentence: Instead of addressing the issue head-on, he beat around the bush, his vague responses frustrating his team who needed clear answers about the project’s future.
19. Shoot Your Mouth Off
Meaning: To speak recklessly or boastfully, often causing trouble.
In a Sentence: He shot his mouth off about his promotion, his loud bragging irritating colleagues who were still waiting for their own well-deserved recognition.
20. Speak Out of Turn
Meaning: To say something at an inappropriate time or without permission.
In a Sentence: She spoke out of turn during the meeting, her unsolicited opinion disrupting the agenda and earning a stern glance from the chairperson.
21. Talk Behind Someone’s Back
Meaning: To gossip or speak about someone secretly when they’re not present.
In a Sentence: She was hurt to learn they talked behind her back, their whispered criticisms about her work stinging more because they never addressed her directly.
22. Get Something Off Your Chest
Meaning: To express feelings or thoughts that have been bothering you.
In a Sentence: He finally got the argument off his chest, his honest conversation with his friend clearing the air and restoring their bond after weeks of tension.
23. Speak Your Piece
Meaning: To say what you want to express, often firmly or briefly.
In a Sentence: At the community forum, she spoke her piece about the park’s neglect, her concise but powerful words rallying support for its restoration.
24. Talk Through Your Hat
Meaning: To speak nonsense or exaggerate without knowledge.
In a Sentence: He was talking through his hat about the new technology, his wild claims about its capabilities revealing he hadn’t even read the manual.
25. Have Your Say
Meaning: To express your opinion or viewpoint, often in a discussion.
In a Sentence: During the debate, everyone was given a chance to have their say, her thoughtful remarks about equality resonating deeply with the attentive audience.
26. Keep Mum
Meaning: To stay silent or keep something secret.
In a Sentence: Despite the pressure, she kept mum about the surprise, her tight-lipped discretion ensuring the birthday celebration remained a delightful shock.
27. Put Words in Someone’s Mouth
Meaning: To falsely claim someone said something or misrepresent their words.
In a Sentence: He accused her of putting words in his mouth, insisting he never suggested canceling the event, only that they consider rescheduling it for safety.
28. Talk Turkey
Meaning: To discuss something seriously and directly, often about business.
In a Sentence: It was time to talk turkey with the client, her straightforward negotiation laying out terms that led to a fair deal beneficial for both parties.
29. Speak in Riddles
Meaning: To talk in a confusing or indirect way, often deliberately.
In a Sentence: The old sage spoke in riddles, his cryptic words about the path to wisdom leaving the young travelers pondering their meaning for days.
30. Silver Tongue
Meaning: A person who speaks eloquently or persuasively.
In a Sentence: With his silver tongue, he convinced the skeptical crowd, his eloquent speech weaving facts and charm into a compelling case for change.
31. Talk the Hind Legs Off a Donkey
Meaning: To talk excessively or persuasively for a long time.
In a Sentence: She could talk the hind legs off a donkey, her endless stories and infectious enthusiasm keeping her friends captivated through hours of conversation.
32. Break the Ice
Meaning: To start a conversation to make people feel more comfortable.
In a Sentence: His lighthearted joke broke the ice at the awkward meeting, his warm humor easing tensions and sparking a lively discussion among the new team.
33. Chew the Fat
Meaning: To have a casual, friendly conversation, often for a long time.
In a Sentence: They chewed the fat over coffee, their relaxed chat about old times stretching into the afternoon, filled with laughter and shared memories.
34. Speak Off the Cuff
Meaning: To speak spontaneously without preparation.
In a Sentence: Asked to address the crowd, she spoke off the cuff, her heartfelt and unscripted words resonating deeply with everyone in the surprised audience.
35. Talk Someone’s Ear Off
Meaning: To talk to someone excessively or for too long.
In a Sentence: He talked her ear off about his new hobby, his enthusiastic monologue about rare coins continuing long after she’d hoped for a quiet moment.
36. Speak with a Forked Tongue
Meaning: To speak dishonestly or deceptively, saying one thing but meaning another.
In a Sentence: The politician spoke with a forked tongue, his promises of reform contradicted by his actions, leaving voters wary of his true intentions.
37. Blow Your Own Trumpet
Meaning: To boast or speak proudly about your own achievements.
In a Sentence: She wasn’t one to blow her own trumpet, but her colleagues praised her tirelessly, her quiet excellence speaking louder than any self-promotion could.
38. Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
Meaning: To speak calmly but have the power to back up your words.
In a Sentence: The negotiator spoke softly and carried a big stick, her calm demeanor masking a strategic authority that ensured her terms were taken seriously.
39. Talk Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth
Meaning: To say contradictory things, often to deceive or please different people.
In a Sentence: He talked out of both sides of his mouth, promising one group support while assuring another the opposite, his duplicity eventually exposed.
40. Have a Big Mouth
Meaning: To be someone who talks too much or reveals secrets.
In a Sentence: His big mouth got him in trouble again, his careless chatter about the surprise gift ruining the carefully planned celebration for his friend.
41. Speak from the Heart
Meaning: To express genuine feelings or beliefs sincerely.
In a Sentence: At the wedding, she spoke from the heart, her emotional vows touching everyone as she poured her love and commitment into every heartfelt word.
42. Talk in Circles
Meaning: To speak vaguely or repetitively without making a clear point.
In a Sentence: Frustrated, she realized he was talking in circles, his rambling explanation about the delay avoiding the real reason and wasting everyone’s time.
43. Lip Service
Meaning: To express support or agreement insincerely, without action.
In a Sentence: He paid lip service to the charity’s cause, his public praise hollow without any actual donations or effort to support their critical mission.
44. Speak Your Truth
Meaning: To express your personal beliefs or experiences authentically.
In a Sentence: At the rally, she spoke her truth, her powerful story of resilience inspiring others to share their own experiences and stand united for change.
45. Word of Mouth
Meaning: Information or news spread through casual conversation.
In a Sentence: The café’s popularity grew by word of mouth, customers raving about its cozy vibe and delicious pastries, drawing crowds without any advertising.
46. Speak Ill of
Meaning: To say negative or critical things about someone.
In a Sentence: She refused to speak ill of her former boss, her gracious silence reflecting her integrity even when others gossiped about his poor leadership.
47. Talk Shop
Meaning: To discuss work or professional matters, often casually.
In a Sentence: At the reunion, they couldn’t help but talk shop, their conversation drifting to industry trends as their shared passion for their careers took over.
48. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
Meaning: Information directly from the most reliable source.
In a Sentence: I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth, the CEO herself confirming the merger, dispelling all the rumors that had been swirling for weeks.
49. Speak Up
Meaning: To talk more loudly or assertively, or to voice an opinion.
In a Sentence: Encouraged to speak up, she raised her voice at the meeting, her bold suggestion for a new strategy catching the attention of the entire board.
50. Talk Trash
Meaning: To speak insultingly or boastfully, often to intimidate.
In a Sentence: Before the game, he talked trash to the opponents, his cocky taunts trying to unnerve them, though his team still had to prove itself on the field.
51. Speak in Tongues
Meaning: To speak in a way that’s incomprehensible or highly emotional, often religiously.
In a Sentence: Overwhelmed with passion, the preacher seemed to speak in tongues, his fervent words flowing in a rhythm that captivated the congregation’s hearts.
52. Talk Through Your Nose
Meaning: To speak in a nasal or affected tone, often annoyingly.
In a Sentence: His habit of talking through his nose irritated the class, his nasal tone making even the most interesting lectures feel grating and hard to follow.
53. Open Your Mouth
Meaning: To begin speaking, often implying risk or boldness.
In a Sentence: She hesitated but finally opened her mouth at the protest, her courageous words against injustice echoing through the crowd, inspiring others to join.
54. Speak Too Soon
Meaning: To say something prematurely, often proven wrong shortly after.
In a Sentence: He spoke too soon about winning the debate, his confidence crumbling when his opponent delivered a brilliant rebuttal that turned the audience’s favor.
55. Talk Up a Storm
Meaning: To speak enthusiastically and at length.
In a Sentence: At the family reunion, she talked up a storm, her animated stories about her travels keeping everyone entertained as the evening stretched into night.
56. Give Voice To
Meaning: To express or articulate something, often feelings or ideas.
In a Sentence: The poet gave voice to the community’s grief, her eloquent verses capturing the collective sorrow and hope in a way that resonated deeply with all.
57. Speak the Same Language
Meaning: To share similar views or understand each other well.
In a Sentence: They instantly spoke the same language, their shared passion for art sparking a conversation that flowed effortlessly, as if they’d known each other for years.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Spill the Beans
What does the idiom “Spill the beans” mean?
a) To keep a secret
b) To reveal a secret
c) To speak quietly
d) To argue loudly
Quiz 2: Hold Your Tongue
What is the meaning of “Hold your tongue”?
a) To speak freely
b) To stay silent
c) To whisper softly
d) To shout angrily
Quiz 3: Put Your Foot in Your Mouth
When someone says, “Put your foot in your mouth,” what are they describing?
a) Speaking eloquently
b) Saying something embarrassing
c) Staying silent
d) Giving a compliment
Quiz 4: Speak Volumes
What does the idiom “Speak volumes” suggest?
a) To talk loudly
b) To convey much without words
c) To speak briefly
d) To gossip
Quiz 5: Talk a Mile a Minute
What situation is described by the idiom “Talk a mile a minute”?
a) Speaking slowly
b) Speaking very quickly
c) Speaking secretly
d) Speaking clearly
Quiz 6: Loose Lips Sink Ships
If someone warns “Loose lips sink ships,” what do they mean?
a) Careless talk can cause harm
b) Silence is dangerous
c) Gossip is harmless
d) Talking helps solve problems
Quiz 7: Speak Your Mind
What does the expression “Speak your mind” imply?
a) To stay quiet
b) To express opinions openly
c) To speak indirectly
d) To repeat others’ words
Quiz 8: Tongue-Tied
When is it appropriate to say, “Tongue-tied”?
a) When someone speaks fluently
b) When someone can’t speak clearly
c) When someone gossips
d) When someone shouts
Quiz 9: Silver Tongue
What is the meaning of “Silver tongue”?
a) An eloquent or persuasive speaker
b) A quiet person
c) A dishonest speaker
d) A boring speaker
Quiz 10: Break the Ice
When someone “breaks the ice,” what are they doing?
a) Starting a fight
b) Starting a conversation to ease tension
c) Ending a discussion
d) Speaking rudely
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- a
- b
- b
- a
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for speaking are like verbal brushstrokes, painting conversations with vivid imagery that captures the art, emotion, and dynamics of communication in all its forms. Whether you’re describing a silver-tongued orator, a gossip-prone friend, or the courage to speak your truth, these 57 idioms offer a rich palette of expressions to enhance your dialogue with wit and depth. Sprinkle them into your conversations to add a touch of linguistic sparkle, and let them flow like a well-crafted speech in your words.