talk through one's hat
To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He's talking through his hat again about politics.”
“You are talking through your hat about how this engine works.”
“The guest on the show was talking through his hat, claiming facts that anyone could easily disprove.”
“The new manager is talking through his hat when he promises to double our sales without hiring any more staff.”
“I realized the lawyer was talking through her hat because she could not explain the basic rules of the contract.”
“Though he spoke with confidence, the critic was clearly talking through his hat, having never set foot in the country he described so vividly.”
Attested from the late 19th century in the United States, the phrase originally denoted the act of bluffing. The contemporary sense, indicating one who speaks without authority or knowledge, developed at a later date.
A popular speculation connects the idiom to the former requirement that British Members of Parliament wear hats. The connection is regarded as implausible.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026