talk someone under the table
To bore (someone) with excessive talk.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My neighbor talks everyone under the table about his garden.”
“I tried to enjoy my coffee, but the man at the next table talked me under the table for an hour.”
“During the long flight, the passenger sitting next to me talked me under the table until I finally pretended to fall asleep.”
The idiom is formed in parallel with the earlier phrase drink someone under the table. It shares a construction with the Dutch expression onder de tafel praten, used for those who outperform an opponent verbally or outdebate them until they are metaphorically floored.
- 01
all talk and no cider
All talk and no results.
- 02
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 03
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 04
big talk
Statements which are boastful or exaggerated.
- 05
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 06
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 07
bring to the table
To contribute (something) to a joint effort or discussion.
- 08
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
Last updated August 10, 2026