to speak volumes

31 5.7

To show a lot without using words

idiom

Informal

: decir mucho

Her expression spoke volumes about her true feelings, even though she did not say a word.
think it speaks volumes

Well, that speaks volumes to me and I hope it speaks volumes to you.

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Examples

But for now, your music speaks volumes, and your sound is ahead of the times.

Blog text (8)
Your not taking responsibility for that speaks volumes about your lack of maturity.

Blog text (8)
I want you to start to realize that even more important than your website, your social media is speaking volumes about what you do.
And I just thought that spoke volumes about who he was.
That moment spoke volumes to me, especially prior to shooting the show.
To me, that speaks volumes of the parents that they are.
And whatever you may think about him now, this interview really spoke volumes for the kind of designer he was.
"I think it speaks volumes about the way ordinary citizens feel about this issue," he says.

Academic text (2007)
And above all else, let your actions speak volumes about the kind of partner you aspire to be.

Apollonia Ponti
The portfolio speaks volumes about the author's capacity to deal with the high-tech demands of many educational institutions.

Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

to express

vsto speak volumes

∞ 2.3

To show ideas and feelings by words or actions

focuses on conveying much information often without words rather than general showing

to say

vsto speak volumes

168 5.1

Show feelings or ideas without words, for example by a look

emphasizes conveying a great deal of meaning without words rather than simple communication

to say it all

vsto speak volumes

Informal

44 4.6

To show feelings or meaning without words

focuses on conveying a large amount of meaning rather than completeness

to make a bold statement

vsto speak volumes

2 4.6

To say or show something that attracts attention and shows confidence

conveys large meaning often without words rather than seeking attention

How Informative

to reveal

7 7.4

to speak volumes

Informal

31 5.7

to hint

119 2.0

to keep quiet

208 2.5

Surface Forms

speak volumes infinitive

speaking volumes present participle

speaks volumes third person singular

spoke volumes past

spoken volumes past participle

Morphology

speak + volume

The core sense 'to convey a great deal' can be partly derived from 'speak' (to express) combined with 'volumes' (a large amount), so a learner who knows the words can guess a general meaning. However the phrase is metaphorical and often used to indicate nonverbal implication or strong implicit meaning, a nuance that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making it only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom speak volumes comes from the idea that a 'volume' is a book: if many volumes could speak, they would tell a big story without words. That's why speak volumes means 'to say a lot without words'.