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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

preach to the choir en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To speak as if to convince a person or group of something they already believe.
    • Jay Branegan says each side will be preaching to the choir. "Democrats will make the argument that's been successful with their base […] [that] Republicans are merely helping the rich." 1999 August 6, Frank Pellegrini, “Now the Tax Cut Is in the Hands of the Voters”, in Time:
    • It hardly needs saying that converting a Tory in a swingable “blue wall” constituency is electorally far more valuable than preaching to the choir in a Labour stronghold. 2023 July 17, Rhymer Rigby, “Sick of this Conservative government? That shouldn’t stop you having Tory friends”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
preached to the choir Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
preached to the choir Tense=Past lexicographic
preaches to the choir Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
preaching to the choir Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

beat a dead horse · preach to deaf ears

Synonyms

preach to the congregation · preach to the converted

Translations (19)

es hablar a Noé de lluvia (speaking to those who already believe) · pl wyważać otwarte drzwi (speaking to those who already believe) · ru ломи́ться в откры́тую дверь (speaking to those who already believe) · nl voor eigen parochie preken (speaking to those who already believe) · th สอนหนังสือสังฆราช (speaking to those who already believe) · it sfondare una porta aperta (speaking to those who already believe) · pl wyważyć otwarte drzwi (speaking to those who already believe) · fi puhua uskovaisille (speaking to those who already believe) · sv predika för de redan frälsta (speaking to those who already believe) · hu nyitott kapukat dönget (speaking to those who already believe) · pt pregar aos convertidos (speaking to those who already believe) · ja 釈迦に説法 (speaking to those who already believe) · de offene Türen einrennen (speaking to those who already believe) · sv slå in öppna dörrar (speaking to those who already believe) · cmn 多此一舉 /多此一举 (speaking to those who already believe) · nb slå inn åpne dører (speaking to those who already believe) · fr prêcher un convaincu (speaking to those who already believe) · fr prêcher un converti (speaking to those who already believe) · nl een open deur intrappen (speaking to those who already believe)