Meaning:
The term “talk the talk, walk the walk” is a phrase in English that means a person should support what they say, not just with words, but also through action.
Example: Arthur talks the talk about how he will start helping out more with the house chores, but so far he has yet to walk the walk.
Synonyms / Similar Phrases:
1. Actions speak louder than words
2. All bark and no bite
3. Put one’s money where their mouth is
Origin Of ‘Talk The Talk, Walk The Walk’
The English phrases “talk the talk” and “walk the walk” can be used together, or each might be used separately. This expression means that a person should back up their talking with action. For example, someone might say they can easily do 100 pushups without breaking a sweat. Another person who doubts their claim might tell them to “walk the walk” instead of just talking about it. In other words, they are saying “show me, don’t tell me.”
Anyway, how old is this phrase? It looks like it is at least around 200 years old. According to The Phrase Finder, the earliest usage of this expression comes from the Mansfield News, an Ohio newspaper printed in June 1921. A line from the newspaper reads:
“Although he has no gilded medals upon his bosom, Howard Herring of the North American Watch company, walks the walk, and talks the talk, of a hero today.”
Example Sentences
- You said that you would clean the bathroom last week, Patrick! How about you walk the walk instead of talking the talk?
Similar Example:
- My friend often brags about how good he is at chess, so I said to him, “How about you put your money where your mouth is and we play a few games?”
Tip: Did you like reading about this expression? If so, we actually have hundreds of phrases in English for you to learn about. There is a list of saying on here you can use to find more; access it with the menu at the top. Really, I’m not all talk, I can prove it! Just scroll up.
