# talk is cheap

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/talk-is-cheap
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

It is easy to make boastful or unrealistic statements which are not supported by actions or evidence.

## Examples

- Don't just promise to help, because talk is cheap.
- You say you can run fast, but talk is cheap.
- Show me your work instead of explaining it, since talk is cheap.
- He keeps saying he will fix the broken fence, but talk is cheap and he never actually picks up a hammer.
- My manager promises a pay raise every month, but I know talk is cheap until I see the extra money in my bank account.
- The company claims to care about the environment, yet they refuse to stop using plastic because talk is cheap.
- You keep promising to start your own business, but talk is cheap if you never actually write a plan or save any money.
- While the politician delivered a passionate speech about reform, the voters remained skeptical, knowing well that talk is cheap when compared to the reality of legislative action.

## Origin

Attested c. 1783, the expression first appears in the play All pleas'd at last. It functions as a routine observation regarding the low cost of verbal commitments compared to the higher price of action.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.