Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gift of the gab

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.83 in modern English

Syllables: gift of the -gab
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly, especially on trivial matters and small talk.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

""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.""
"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."
"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."

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

gifts of the gab (plural) gift of gab (alternative)

Phrases

silver tongue

Frequently Paired Words

silver tongue

Questions

What does gift of the gab mean?: The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly, especially on trivial matters and small talk.

How to pronounce gift of the gab

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