Phrase guide

waste breath

verb · 1 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 speak in a manner which is needless or futile; in discussion or argument to make points which are not appreciated or heeded.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: դատարկ խոսել (datark xosel) — to speak futilely
  • Chinese Cantonese: 嘥氣 /嘥气 (saai1 hei3) — to speak futilely
  • Chinese Mandarin: 白說 /白说 (báishuō) — to speak futilely
  • Finnish: puhua joutavia — to speak futilely
  • French: perdre sa salive — to speak futilely
  • French: gaspiller sa salive — to speak futilely
  • Galician: gastar saliva — to speak futilely
  • German: Atem verschwenden — to speak futilely
  • Icelandic: eyða orku — to speak futilely
  • Icelandic: eyða orku í — to speak futilely
  • Italian: sprecar fiato — to speak futilely
  • Polish: szkoda słów — to speak futilely
  • Portuguese: gastar saliva — to speak futilely
  • Russian: говори́ть на ве́тер (govorítʹ na véter) — to speak futilely
  • Spanish: gastar saliva — to speak futilely