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spiel

spiel

18 7.9
A long talk that tries to convince people to buy something
  • noun
  • /ʃpiːl/
  • Informal
translation icon : rollo
  • Before the presentation, she practiced her spiel to promote the new product effectively.

And I guess that's kind of my whole spiel on the situation.

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Examples

  • Give him the whole spiel.

  • And for the people in here who didn't know who I am or hadn't heard this spiel, please understand that the opportunity is enormous.

  • So whoa, it's all the spiel that I just explained to you.

  • I agreed and went and gave a spiel about human rights because that is what they wanted.

    Academic text (1994)
  • So that is my hour long spiel on the updated living room situation.

  • OK, so I thought I'd go through that long spiel because we have, because it's built into the story here.

  • OK, so I get to do the the introduction spiel for today's class.

  • Okay, here's my spiel to all new writers.

  • The flight attendant moved backward several rows to give her spiel again.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • All right, so that's it for my spiel on Fiat currency, gold, silver and Bitcoin.

Synonyms

talk
vsspiel
718 1.8

A speech given to an audience

is more promotional and glib rather than a neutral presentation
rhetoric
vsspiel
265 7.0

Words that sound impressive but have little real meaning

is more promotional and aimed at persuading or promoting something
pep talk
vsspiel
40 3.0

A short talk that encourages people before they do something important

is aimed at promoting or selling rather than offering encouragement
sales pitch
vsspiel
26 3.2

A short talk to convince someone to buy something

is a more general glib promotional speech rather than a short directed appeal
patter
vsspiel
5 7.4

Fast smooth talk used by salespeople to persuade people

is a longer, glib promotional speech rather than short rapid charm talk
palaver
vsspiel
  • Informal
2 8.8

A lot of talk that sounds important but says nothing

is similar but often more promotional and sometimes longer
sales talk
vsspiel
1 3.0

Speech that tries to make someone buy something

is a glib persuasive speech often longer and aimed at promotion
empty talk
vsspiel
1 4.3

Words that sound important but have no real meaning or action

is persuasive and promotional rather than merely empty or meaningless
salesy pitch
vsspiel
  • Informal
7.9

A message that tries too hard to get you to buy something

is persuasive and promotional but can be less overtly pushy
spruik
vsspiel
  • Australian
9.9

A short lively speech that tries to attract customers

is similar but often longer and more glib than a short pitch
line of gab
vsspiel
  • Informal
8.1

Smooth talk used to convince people, often by salespeople

is more extended and glib while keeping the same promotional aim

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

How Persuasive

infomercial
49 4.2
sales pitch
26 3.2
spiel
  • Informal
18 7.9
address
  • Formal
212 5.3
talk
947 1.0
comment
1.0

Surface Forms

spiel singular
spiels plural

Etymology

Spiel comes from German and Yiddish spiel, which means 'play' or 'show'. Think of a salesperson giving a small 'play' — a practiced performance to persuade people — so spiel now means a long, practiced talk or sales pitch.