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to prattle

to prattle

9 8.4
To talk on and on in a silly way about unimportant things
  • verb
  • /ˈprætəl/
translation icon : hablar sin parar
  • The more you wanted him to clam up, the more he prattled on.

And people who prattle that and say, well, we can detect deception because the person touches their nose or covers their their mouth.

Examples

  • Brian was prattling on about flights, airlines, contingencies, and managing the problem.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • So she asked me what sorts of things I wrote, and I prattled on about my little career writing for 'Seventeen' magazine and judging the Miss Teenage America Pageant, and Ross shoots William Shawn a look.

  • Why today, of all days, was there no weather to prattle of?

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The PM does prattle on in a crisis.

  • While you prattle through your supper

  • I just couldn't bear having to listen to the Commissioner prattle on anymore.

  • The pirates prattle on as their ship moves away from the dock under full sail.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Granted, it wasn't the same, but I would prattle on incessantly about why it was so great.

    Blog text (17)
  • Clay listens as his mother prattles on until the connection is broken and the phone goes dead.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • At the party, she began to prattle on about her latest vacation, completely ignoring her friends' comments.

Synonyms

to chatter
vsto prattle
86 2.7

To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things

covers the same trivial subject matter but not necessarily rapid speech
to babble
vsto prattle
75 4.4

Talk quickly in a silly way that is hard to understand

is slower and more about trivial content than speed or clarity
to ramble
vsto prattle
  • Informal
48 5.3

To talk or write for a long time without a clear point

is idle, foolish speech rather than general aimlessness
to ramble on
vsto prattle
  • Informal
15 6.2

Talk for a long time in an unclear way about small unimportant things

is similar but often lighter and less confused in focus
to yammer
vsto prattle
  • Informal
14 9.0

Talk loudly for a long time while complaining

is about foolish long talk rather than loud or whining tone
to blather
vsto prattle
  • Informal
12 8.0

To talk a lot in a silly way that makes little sense

focuses more on trivial content rather than sheer meaninglessness
to belabor
vsto prattle
  • US
9 8.1

To talk about something for too long and say the same things again

is long and trivial talk but not mainly repetitive criticism
to blither
vsto prattle
7 9.9

To talk in a silly, confused way that has little meaning

is more about pointless length and trivial subject matter than nonsense alone
to blabber
vsto prattle
  • Informal
6 7.8

To talk too much and tell secrets carelessly

is confined to trivial talk without the careless revealing element
to gibber
vsto prattle
5 8.6

To make quick unclear sounds when you are nervous or excited

is about pointless long talking rather than being unintelligible from nerves
to rattle on
vsto prattle
  • Informal
5 6.6

To talk for a long time about small boring things

is similar but may feel less tiresome and more merely pointless
to yack
vsto prattle
  • Informal
3 8.8

To talk a lot about unimportant things in an annoying way

is about long foolish talk but can be less tiresome in feeling
to clack
vsto prattle
  • Archaic
3 8.4

To talk quickly about small, unimportant things

covers the same trivial topics but not necessarily rapid speech
to yap
vsto prattle
  • Informal
2 7.7

To talk a lot in an annoying, noisy way

is similar but usually less loud and less intentionally annoying
to tattle
vsto prattle
  • Informal
1 7.1

To talk a lot about small unimportant things, often about other people

is idle, foolish talk but not specifically gossipy in nature
to gabble
vsto prattle
1 7.9

To talk quickly and unclearly so others cannot understand you

is similar but does not focus on speed or incomprehensibility
to prate
vsto prattle
  • Literature
1 9.9

To talk for a long time about things that do not matter

is similar but slightly more lighthearted and inconsequential in tone
to drivel
vsto prattle
1 7.0

To talk in a silly way that makes no sense

stresses long trivial talk more than pure silliness
to palaver
vsto prattle
1 9.4

To talk for a long time about unimportant things

is more plainly silly and inconsequential rather than elaborate
to blether
vsto prattle
  • UK
1 9.9

To talk a long time in a silly or unimportant way

is more about idle, inconsequential talk than playful silliness
to witter
vsto prattle
  • UK
1 9.3

To talk for a long time about unimportant things in a boring way

is comparable but leans more toward light, inconsequential chatting
to haver
vsto prattle
  • UK
1 9.9

To talk for a long time about silly or unimportant things

matches prolonged trivial speech but is often lighter and less aimless
to twaddle
vsto prattle
  • Archaic
9.0

To talk for a long time about unimportant things in a silly way

matches trivial speech but adds a focus on nonsensical rapidity
to bibble
vsto prattle
  • Archaic
9.9

To speak quickly in a confused or silly way

focuses on trivial content rather than sheer incoherence or speed
to maunder
vsto prattle
  • UK
9.9

To talk in a slow, unclear way about unimportant things

is more deliberately foolish and inconsequential than mere indistinctness
to piffle
vsto prattle
  • Informal
9.9

To talk or act in a silly, unimportant way

is focused on extended trivial talk rather than brief trivial behavior
to blellum
vsto prattle
  • Slang
9.9

To talk a lot in a silly, pointless way

is similar but can be less continuous and more casually inconsequential
to platitudinize
vsto prattle
9.9

To speak or write dull, obvious things instead of new ideas

is about pointless long talk rather than repeated trite expressions
to tittle-tattle
vsto prattle
  • Archaic
9.1

Talk in a light, silly way about other people

is similar but does not necessarily carry the gossiping aspect
to bla
vsto prattle
  • Informal
9.9

To talk in a boring way without saying anything useful

is more playful and inconsequential rather than purely boring
to gassing
vsto prattle
  • UK
8.1

To talk a lot about unimportant things

is more foolish and inconsequential rather than merely casual chatting

Antonyms

1.0

Pay attention to sounds or speech to hear and understand them

Compounds

prittle-prattle
  • Archaic
9.7

Light talk about unimportant, silly things people say

How Inconsequential

to babble
75 4.4
to jabber
  • Informal
8 6.5
to prattle
9 8.4
to ramble
  • Informal
48 5.3
to mutter
140 3.7

Surface Forms

prattle infinitive
prattled past
prattled past participle
prattling present participle
prattles third person singular

Morphology

prattle = prate (semi-transparent) = prate + le

Formed from 'prate' plus a diminutive/frequentative suffix '-le'; the meaning is directly related but the suffix is archaic/unproductive for many learners.

Etymology

Prattle as a verb grew from the same sound-based idea as prate and started as a sound like quick, repeated baby talk. So, to prattle is to 'talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way', often going on about unimportant things.