talk through one's hat

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Attested from the late 19th century in the United States in the sense of “bluff”; the sense “speak without authority or knowledge” developed later. Although some people speculate a connection to a former requirement that British Members of Parliament wear hats, the connection is implausible.

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Dutch: lullen — to speak lacking knowledge
• Finnish: puhua läpiä päähänsä — to speak lacking knowledge
• French: parler à travers son chapeau — to speak lacking knowledge
• French: parler à tort et à travers — to speak lacking knowledge
• German: keinen blassen Schimmer haben — to speak lacking knowledge
• German: wie der Blinde von der Farbe reden — to speak lacking knowledge
• Kurdish: ji ber xwe ve gotin (ku) — to speak lacking knowledge
• Polish: mówić jak ślepy o kolorach — to speak lacking knowledge
• Spanish: hablar por boca de ganso — to speak lacking knowledge
• Swedish: prata i nattmössan — to speak lacking knowledge
• Finnish: puhua vastoin parempaa tietoaan — to bluff
• German: auf den Arm nehmen — to bluff
• German: einen Bären aufbinden — to bluff
• German: zum Narren halten — to bluff