Dictionary

gift of the gab en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, uncountable, usually) The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly, especially on trivial matters and small talk.
   • "Ay, that he shall," replied Fagin, "and we'll have a big-wig, Charley: one that's got the greatest gift of the gab: to carry on his defence; and he shall make a speech for himself too, if he likes." 1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 43, in Oliver Twist:
   • I had meant to speak for ten minutes and must now go on for forty, and, though I've been racking my brains for three hours to think of something, I simply cannot last the course. Now you've got to be a good chap and help me. You're a Free Trader and can tell our people what a wash-out Protection is in the Colonies. All you fellows have the gift of the gab. 1915, John Buchan, chapter 4, in The Thirty-Nine Steps:
   • He is a political chameleon, as charming to business leaders he met privately in Aberdeen on Friday night as he has been inspiring to distressed and desperate Labour defectors in Glasgow and beyond. The ex-oil economist can do it all because he has the gift of the gab and used to be a leftwing tearaway, expelled from the SNP ranks in stuffier times. 2014 September 8, Michael White, “Roll up, roll up! The Amazing Salmond will show a Scotland you won't believe”, in The Guardian:

Forms

Relateds

silver tongue

Translations (23)

yi אַ צונג אויף רעדער (ability to talk readily) · de Wortgewalt (ability to talk readily) · bg дар слово (ability to talk readily) · ota جربزه (ability to talk readily) · es labia (ability to talk readily) · es pico de oro (ability to talk readily) · de Eloquenz (ability to talk readily) · sv vara slängd i käften (ability to talk readily) · sv munläder (ability to talk readily) · nl geslepen tong (ability to talk readily) · de Redegabe (ability to talk readily) · tr cerbeze (ability to talk readily) · de flottes Mundwerk (ability to talk readily) · cmn 口齒伶俐 /口齿伶俐 (ability to talk readily) · it il dono della parlantina (ability to talk readily) · yi געשליפֿענע צונג (ability to talk readily) · yi אַ צונג און ביינער (ability to talk readily) · fi hyvät puhelahjat (ability to talk readily) · sv talets gåva (ability to talk readily) · es don de palabra (ability to talk readily) · es verba (ability to talk readily) · fr bagout (ability to talk readily) · fr tchatche (ability to talk readily)