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Glite Dictionary
rent-a-gob

rent-a-gob

9.9
A person who talks a lot, often loudly to get attention in public
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛntəɡɒb/
  • Offensive
translation icon : bocazas
  • I can't stand that rent-a-gob on the news.

Examples

  • The TV show is always looking for a rent-a-gob willing to air controversial opinions.

  • He is such a rent-a-gob at parties!

  • At every party, there’s that one rent-a-gob who dominates the conversation.

  • He’s considered a bit of a rent-a-gob in political debates.

  • At the party, Simon was being a real rent-a-gob, chatting incessantly about his latest adventures.

  • The television show features a rent-a-gob who always has something to say, even when it's not necessary.

  • Everyone rolled their eyes as the rent-a-gob on the panel dominated the conversation with his loud opinions.

Synonyms

loudmouth
vsrent-a-gob
  • Offensive
21 6.7

A person who talks too much, often loudly, and reveals private things

leans toward public speech that is humorous or annoying rather than offensive
gasbag
vsrent-a-gob
  • Offensive
4 7.9

A person who talks a lot about unimportant things

is louder and often used for public or media speakers who annoy or amuse
yapper
vsrent-a-gob
  • Offensive
1 7.9

A person who talks a lot in a loud, annoying way

is more tied to public or media appearances with humorous effect
babbler
vsrent-a-gob
  • Offensive
1 8.2

A person who talks too much in an annoying way

is often loud or humorous in public rather than mere foolish nonsense
talkee
vsrent-a-gob
  • Slang
9.9

A person who talks a lot, often in a funny way

can be annoying or loud and often appears in public or media
blatherer
vsrent-a-gob
  • Offensive
7.4

A person who talks a lot and says silly or meaningless things

often aims for humor or public attention rather than saying meaningless things

How Talkative

loudmouth
  • Offensive
21 6.7
rent-a-gob
  • Offensive
9.9
chatterbox
  • Informal
9 4.2
listener
228 1.0
quiet one
4 5.3

Surface Forms

rent-a-gob singular
rent-a-gobs plural

Morphology

rent-a-gob = rent + gob (semi-transparent) = rent + a + gob

The components 'rent' and slang 'gob' are visible and the 'rent-a-' humorous template is recognizable, but the figurative meaning relies on slang and an idiomatic joke so learners may not derive it easily.

Etymology

Rent-a-gob comes from the phrase rent-a-, as in rent-a-car, meaning 'to hire', and the British slang gob, meaning 'mouth'. So a rent-a-gob is like a 'hired mouth', a person who talks loudly or too much in public, often to get attention.