ENGLISH
REFERENCE

suit the action to the word

idiom
Meaning

To do what one has just proposed or spoken of.


Origin

disputed origin

A phrase from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

Examples
SIMPLE

If you say you will help, you should suit the action to the word.

CONTEXTUAL

He promised to fix the broken fence today, and he intends to suit the action to the word.

COMPLEX

The leader pledged to reform the failing department, and his supporters waited to see if he would truly suit the action to the word.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bad word

    A vulgar word.

  2. 02

    bag of fruit

    [Cockney slang]suit

  3. 03

    birthday suit

    Nakedness, unclothed skin; an exposure of a human's natural anatomy without clothing.

  4. 04

    breathe a word

    To divulge even part of a secret (usually used with a negative).

  5. 05

    cut one's cloth to suit one's purse

    To settle for less when money or resources are limited.

  6. 06

    dicky

    [Cockney slang]word

  7. 07

    dirty word

    The name of a topic that a person prefers not to hear or discuss.

  8. 08

    empty suit

    An ineffective or incompetent person in a place of authority.

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