Phrase guide

rattle off

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To list or recite quickly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • When I suggested it, he promptly rattled off a dozen reasons that it wouldn't work.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To rail at; to scold.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

recite volubly or extravagantly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He could recite the names of all the chemical elements

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rattle down, reel off, spiel off, roll off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: recite

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ladella — list or recite quickly
  • Finnish: luetella — list or recite quickly
  • French: énumérer rapidement — list or recite quickly
  • French: débiter rapidement — list or recite quickly
  • German: herunterrattern — list or recite quickly
  • Norwegian: ramse opp — list or recite quickly
  • Russian: отбараба́нивать (otbarabánivatʹ) — list or recite quickly
  • Russian: отбараба́нить (otbarabánitʹ) — list or recite quickly
  • Russian: оттараба́нивать (ottarabánivatʹ) — list or recite quickly
  • Russian: оттараба́нить (ottarabánitʹ) — list or recite quickly
  • Spanish: decir de carrerilla — list or recite quickly
  • Spanish: recitar de carrerilla — list or recite quickly
  • Spanish: enumerar de carrerilla — list or recite quickly
  • Spanish: citar de carrerilla — list or recite quickly
  • Spanish: declamar de carrerilla — list or recite quickly
  • Swedish: rabbla upp — list or recite quickly