to harp on
25
6.7
- phrasal verb
- /hɑrp ɑn/
- Informal
- But-- I don't mean to keep harping on it... ...but I think that that's key to any decision you make.
- keep harping on
- hate to harp on
- always harping on
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Watch on YouTubeAnd this is something I talk about, I harp on all the time.
- And this is something I talk about, I harp on all the time.
- And then to be able to move forward because if you keep like harping on the past, then do you guys fight?
- And that's kind of my point that I harp on a lot in my videos, 'cause people might think I'm anti rentals.
- We, I always harp on the fact that we need people our age, right, to represent us, to come from our neighborhoods.
- And I, I don't mean to harp on Ray Rice, but obviously he's the most recent case where there doesn't seem to be a, a real pivotal consequence.
- What is it that Eric was harping on so hard on?
Examples
-
Good gods, are you still harping on that minor side issue?
Blog text (16) -
As for the secession thing, since you keep harping on it, two words: Rick Perry.
Blog text (8) -
And this is something I talk about, I harp on all the time.
-
And then to be able to move forward because if you keep like harping on the past, then do you guys fight?
-
Why do you keep harping on that for?
-
What is it that Eric was harping on so hard on?
-
You make many good points, but always harping on big business and the wealthy is not helpful.
Blog text (13) -
I wish you wouldn't keep harping on that.
-
For decades, many critics have harped on the outmoded "factory model" of schools.
Academic text (2005) -
He always harps on the importance of studying for exams, even when we already know.
Synonyms
253
2.8
To complain in a high, annoying voice
65
2.6
To keep criticizing or telling someone to do things in an annoying way
46
3.7
To complain quietly in a low voice
31
6.6
To keep complaining about something in a way that annoys people
25
5.6
To complain repeatedly about small things
20
9.0
Talk loudly for a long time while complaining
14
9.6
To complain a lot in an annoying way
10
6.0
Talk for a long time in a boring, flat voice
10
8.1
To talk about something for too long and say the same things again
10
4.1
To complain quietly about something you do not like
9
6.8
To complain a lot in an annoying way
9
7.5
Speak to someone for a very long time in a way that annoys them
7
8.1
To complain in an annoying way about small things
7
6.5
To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed
6
9.9
To complain often about small things
5
9.9
To complain a lot about small things and annoy others
5
6.6
To talk for a long time about small boring things
1
8.4
To talk without stopping in an annoying way
1
9.1
Talk for a long time in a way that annoys other people
How Persistent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'harp' (to persistently complain or dwell on) combined with the particle 'on' (indicating continuation or persistence) yields a directly compositional meaning of repeatedly complaining. This follows a common English verb + particle pattern and is therefore predictable for a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings.
Etymology
The phrasal verb harp on may come from the image of someone playing a harp and repeating the same notes again and again. Because the music is repeated, harp on now means 'to talk or complain about something repeatedly'.