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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

talk is cheap en · X

Pronunciation

Etymology

The expression first appears c. 1783 in the play All pleas'd at last.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) It is easy to make boastful or unrealistic statements which are not supported by actions or evidence.
    • Cecil Winwood accepted the test. He claimed that he could dope the guards the night of the break. “Talk is cheap,” said Long Bill Hodge. “What we want is the goods. Dope one of the guards to-night.” 1915, Jack London, chapter 2, in The Star-Rover:
    • "If I ever set eyes on that savage again, I'll kill him. You know that, don't you, you damn squaw?" She shrugged. "Talk's cheap." 1950, Dorothy M. Johnson, Flame on the Frontier; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 29:

Relateds

put one's money where one's mouth is · fine words butter no parsnips · actions speak louder than words · talk the talk · money talks, bullshit walks

Translations (12)

pt falar é fácil (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · lv gudri dirst nav malku cirst (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · lmo se fa a svelta a parlà (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · srn a no babariman e broko pranasi (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · mi he kōrero i pahawa (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · bg с приказки пазар не се прави (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · fi puhe on halpaa (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · it si fa presto a parlare (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · fr un con qui marche va plus loin qu'un intellectuel assis (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · pl mówić to każdy potrafi (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · cmn 说着容易做着难 (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions) · fr c'est facile de parler (it is easy to make boastful statements which are not supported by actions)