📚 Speak Volumes: The Grandiose Lexicon of Loquaciousness 🎤
To say a great deal about something, to be very expressive on a subject. In this hyperbolic phrase, what is being said is likened to an entire book. It dates from about 1800 and continues to be current. M. Wilmot used it in a letter of May 3, 1803, “A sentimental story that speaks Volumes in favour of the Count and his Daughter.”
Related and Similar Terms
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Talk a Blue Streak
- Definition: To speak very rapidly and at length.
- Synonym: Rant
- Antonym: Silent
-
Speak One’s Mind
- Definition: To express one’s thoughts or feelings frankly.
- Synonym: Voice one’s opinion
- Antonym: Bottle up
-
Express Oneself
- Definition: To communicate one’s thoughts, ideas or feelings.
- Synonym: Articulate
- Antonym: Conceal
-
Run off at the Mouth
- Definition: To talk excessively or aimlessly.
- Synonym: Blabber
- Antonym: Listen
Humor-filled Quotes
- “Some people speak volumes while saying absolutely nothing.” – Unknown
- “A sentence is a phonograph of what’s going on in your head – make sure the record isn’t scratched.” – Banter Barry
Proverbs and References
- “Actions speak louder than words” – Emphasizes that what people do is more important than what they say, quite a contrast to our verbose idiom!
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Lovers of language will find this book ‘speaks volumes’ about society and relationships.
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
Literature:
-
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
- A behemoth of a book that truly ‘speaks volumes’ on the human condition and society’s intricate fabric.
-
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- An epic tale that surely speaks more than volumes about the human spirit and history.
Songs:
- We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel
- A song that narrates history with brevity and wit.
Poetry:
- “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
- Eliot’s use of language speaks volumes about modern anguish.
Movies:
- Dead Poets Society
- Invoking the spirit of “Carpe Diem,” this film inspires with its eloquent narrative.
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Speak volumes
- [ ] Bark up music sheets
- [ ] Draw tears with feathers
- [ ] Sell stars on the sidewalk
> **Explanation:** "Speak volumes" is a known idiom suggesting that something expresses a lot. The other options are whimsically made up.
### Which phrase is genuine?
- [ ] Sing novels with a gaze
- [x] Talk a blue streak
- [ ] Write whispers with a shout
- [ ] Laugh with lollipops
> **Explanation:** "Talk a blue streak" is a real expression referring to speaking quickly and incessantly. The others? Fantastically fabricated.
### True or False: 'Actions speak louder than words' is an idiom
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Definitively true. This idiom means that what people do has a more profound impact than what they say.
Author: W. T. Wittywords
Date: 2023-10-01
Inspirational Farewell: May your words always paint vibrant pictures and your expressions never lack color. Until we meet again through the pages, keep the volumes of life ever vibrant and endless.
