talk nineteen to the dozen

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talk nineteen to the dozen

To speak very rapidly, hurriedly, and/or energetically. My aunt can get talking nineteen to the dozen if you get her on a topic she's passionate about. My professor always talks nineteen to the dozen, so it can be hard keeping up with what he's saying.

talk nineteen to the dozen

BRITISH

If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they talk very quickly, without pausing. He was animated, waving his arms around and talking nineteen to the dozen. Note: This expression suggests the idea of using nineteen words where most people would only use twelve. It is unclear why the number nineteen was chosen rather than any other.

talk nineteen to the dozen

talk incessantly. British

No convincing reason has been put forward as to why nineteen should have been preferred in this idiom rather than twenty or any other number larger than twelve.

1998 Pamela Jooste Dance with a Poor Man's Daughter He hasn't even got his foot in the door before she's talking nineteen to the dozen and hanging round his neck and asking if he's got sweets in his pocket.

talk, etc. nineteen to the ˈdozen

(British English, informal) talk a lot and very fast, usually in an informal conversation: An hour later they were still sitting there talking nineteen to the dozen.