gift of the gab

English

Noun

gift of the gab (plural gifts of the gab)

1. (idiomatic) The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.
   • 1839, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. 43:

     "Ay, that he shall," replied Fagin, "and we'll have a big-wig, Charley: one that's got the greatest gift of the gab: to carry on his defence; and he shall make a speech for himself too, if he likes."

   • 1915, John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps, ch. 4:

     I had meant to speak for ten minutes and must now go on for forty, and, though I've been racking my brains for three hours to think of something, I simply cannot last the course. Now you've got to be a good chap and help me. You're a Free Trader and can tell our people what a wash-out Protection is in the Colonies. All you fellows have the gift of the gab.

Translations

Translations

Dutch: geslepen tong (nl) Yiddish: אַ צונג אויף רעדער (yi) (a tsung oyf reder) f., אַ צונג און ביינער (yi) (a tsung on beyner) f., געשליפֿענע צונג (yi) (geshlifene tsung) f.