When people talk, they often use special phrases that have meanings different from the words themselves. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms make talking more fun and help us share ideas in a colorful way. Instead of saying something in a plain way, an idiom adds flavor to the sentence. For example, saying “hold your tongue” doesn’t mean you should really grab your tongue it means you should stop talking!
Idioms for speaking are used every day. We might hear them in school, at home, or even on TV. They can tell someone to be quiet, speak clearly, or say too much. Learning these idioms can help you understand people better and make your own talking more interesting. In this article, we’ll look at 30 idioms that are all about talking and speaking. Let’s find out what they mean and how to use them.
Idioms for Speaking
1. Hold your tongue
Meaning: Stop yourself from speaking.
Samples: I had to hold my tongue when I wanted to shout during class. / He held his tongue instead of arguing back.
To Put it Another Way: I stayed quiet on purpose. / He chose not to say anything.
2. Spill the beans
Meaning: To tell a secret or reveal something.
Samples: She spilled the beans about the surprise party. / Don’t spill the beans about our plan!
To Put it Another Way: She told something she wasn’t supposed to. / He shared a secret too early.
3. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something you want to say.
Samples: I had to bite my tongue when I got mad at my friend. / He bit his tongue and didn’t answer back.
To Put it Another Way: I kept my words to myself. / He didn’t say what he was thinking.
4. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally tell a secret.
Samples: He let the cat out of the bag about the birthday gift. / I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag.
To Put it Another Way: He told the surprise. / I gave away something by mistake.
5. Talk someone’s ear off
Meaning: To talk too much to someone.
Samples: She talked my ear off about her weekend. / He always talks my ear off when he’s excited.
To Put it Another Way: She kept talking without stopping. / He wouldn’t stop chatting.
6. Keep it under your hat
Meaning: To keep something a secret.
Samples: Keep it under your hat we’re throwing a surprise party! / He kept the news under his hat until it was time.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t tell anyone yet. / Keep it to yourself for now.
7. A slip of the tongue
Meaning: Saying something by mistake.
Samples: I called the teacher “Mom” it was just a slip of the tongue! / His slip of the tongue made everyone laugh.
To Put it Another Way: I said the wrong thing by accident. / He messed up his words.
8. Speak of the devil
Meaning: Said when someone appears just as they are being talked about.
Samples: We were talking about you speak of the devil! / Speak of the devil, here comes Sam!
To Put it Another Way: We were just talking about you and then you showed up. / What a surprise you’re here right after we mentioned you.
9. Cat got your tongue
Meaning: Said when someone is quiet and not speaking.
Samples: You’re so quiet cat got your tongue? / When asked a question, he just stood there. “Cat got your tongue?” I asked.
To Put it Another Way: Why aren’t you talking? / You’re usually chatty what happened?
10. Talk the talk
Meaning: To speak confidently about something.
Samples: He talks the talk about basketball, but he’s never played a game. / She talks the talk when it comes to science.
To Put it Another Way: He says he knows a lot. / She acts like an expert when she speaks.
11. Word of mouth
Meaning: Information shared by people talking.
Samples: The new ice cream shop got popular by word of mouth. / I heard about the game from word of mouth at school.
To Put it Another Way: I heard it from someone. / People talked about it and the news spread.
12. Talk is cheap
Meaning: Saying something is easy, but doing it is harder.
Samples: He said he would help, but talk is cheap. / She always promises to study, but talk is cheap.
To Put it Another Way: Saying something doesn’t mean much if you don’t do it. / Words are easy actions matter.
13. Lost for words
Meaning: Not knowing what to say.
Samples: I was lost for words when I won the award. / She was lost for words after the surprise.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t know what to say. / I was shocked and quiet.
14. Small talk
Meaning: Light or casual conversation.
Samples: We made small talk while waiting in line. / He started some small talk about the weather.
To Put it Another Way: We talked about simple things. / It wasn’t a deep or serious chat.
15. Speak your mind
Meaning: Say what you really think.
Samples: She’s not afraid to speak her mind in class. / He spoke his mind about the unfair rule.
To Put it Another Way: She says what she feels. / He shares his honest thoughts.
16. Talk behind someone’s back
Meaning: Say bad things about someone when they’re not around.
Samples: It’s not kind to talk behind someone’s back. / He felt hurt when he heard they talked behind his back.
To Put it Another Way: They said mean things when he wasn’t there. / She gossiped without the person knowing.
17. Give someone a piece of your mind
Meaning: To tell someone exactly what you think, usually when upset.
Samples: She gave him a piece of her mind after he broke her pencil. / I wanted to give my brother a piece of my mind for losing my game.
To Put it Another Way: She told him she was angry. / I told him how I really felt.
18. Talk down to someone
Meaning: To speak in a way that makes someone feel small or not smart.
Samples: Don’t talk down to your little brother. / The coach talked down to us like we didn’t know anything.
To Put it Another Way: He spoke like he was better than me. / She made me feel silly by how she talked.
19. Hear it through the grapevine
Meaning: To learn something through gossip or from others, not directly.
Samples: I heard through the grapevine that we’re getting a new student. / She heard through the grapevine that the field trip might be canceled.
To Put it Another Way: Someone told me a rumor. / I didn’t hear it from the teacher, but from a friend.
20. Loud and clear
Meaning: Easy to hear and understand.
Samples: The teacher’s rules were loud and clear. / He gave me the message loud and clear.
To Put it Another Way: The message was clear. / I understood everything.
21. Talk until you’re blue in the face
Meaning: Talk for a long time without changing anything.
Samples: I could talk until I’m blue in the face, but he won’t listen. / She talked until she was blue in the face about being careful.
To Put it Another Way: No one is listening even though I keep talking. / Talking doesn’t help.
22. Put in a good word
Meaning: Say nice things about someone to help them.
Samples: I’ll put in a good word for you with the teacher. / She put in a good word to help her friend join the club.
To Put it Another Way: I said something nice to help. / He helped by telling others good things about me.
23. Voice of reason
Meaning: Someone who helps others think clearly.
Samples: She was the voice of reason when the group got too excited. / He acted as the voice of reason during the argument.
To Put it Another Way: She helped us calm down. / He made us think before we acted.
24. Have the last word
Meaning: Be the one who speaks last in an argument.
Samples: He always wants to have the last word. / She argued until she got the last word in.
To Put it Another Way: He had to finish the fight with his own point. / She didn’t stop talking until her side was heard last.
25. Talk in circles
Meaning: To speak without getting to the point.
Samples: He talked in circles and never answered the question. / She kept talking in circles about the problem.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t explain clearly. / She kept going without saying what mattered.
26. Clear the air
Meaning: To talk and fix a misunderstanding.
Samples: We had to clear the air after our fight. / She wanted to clear the air with her best friend.
To Put it Another Way: We talked to solve the problem. / She spoke to make things better.
27. Talk your way out of something
Meaning: Use words to escape trouble or a problem.
Samples: He talked his way out of detention. / She talked her way out of helping with chores.
To Put it Another Way: He used smart words to avoid trouble. / She gave reasons so she didn’t have to do something.
28. Say it to someone’s face
Meaning: Say something directly, not behind someone’s back.
Samples: If you have a problem, say it to my face. / She said it to his face instead of talking behind his back.
To Put it Another Way: She told him directly. / He didn’t hide what he thought.
29. Take the words right out of my mouth
Meaning: Say exactly what someone else was thinking.
Samples: You took the words right out of my mouth I was going to say that! / She took the words out of my mouth during the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: I was about to say the same thing. / We thought the same way.
30. Talk sense
Meaning: Speak in a smart or reasonable way.
Samples: He finally started to talk sense after calming down. / She always talks sense during group work.
To Put it Another Way: He gave a smart idea. / She helped us understand with good words.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Speaking
Reading Passage: “The Secret in the Cafeteria”
It was a normal Tuesday lunch until Mia whispered, “Don’t spill the beans, but there’s a surprise party for Mr. Lane.” Josh nodded, trying to hold his tongue, even though he was bursting with excitement. Just then, Ellie walked up. “What are you two talking about?” she asked. Josh nearly let the cat out of the bag, but bit his tongue just in time.
Later, during math class, Mia said, “I heard through the grapevine that someone blabbed about the surprise.” Josh looked nervous. “Not me,” he said, but his friend Ben joked, “You always talk someone’s ear off. I bet you slipped!” Josh laughed, “Talk is cheap I kept my secret!”
After school, Mia said, “You really were the voice of reason today. I thought you’d talk in circles.” Josh replied, “Well, I didn’t want to talk behind anyone’s back or say the wrong thing.”
Then Ellie showed up. “So, it was a surprise?” she asked. Josh was lost for words.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for speaking you found in the story.
Answer Key
- Spill the beans
- Hold his tongue
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Bit his tongue
- Heard through the grapevine
- Talk someone’s ear off
- Talk is cheap
- Voice of reason
Conclusion
Idioms for speaking help us say things in fun and interesting ways. Instead of just saying “be quiet” or “tell a secret,” we use phrases like “hold your tongue” or “spill the beans.” These expressions make our talking more colorful and easier to understand.
When you learn these idioms, your speaking and writing will get better. You can also understand others more clearly. Try using some of these idioms when you talk with friends or write a story. It will help you share your ideas in a smarter and more creative way.
