# jaw away

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jaw-away
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to talk for a long time, especially about things that are not very important. You use this when someone is chatting continuously.

For teachers: To talk incessantly or at length, often in a casual or tedious manner. The particle 'away' functions as an aspectual marker indicating continuous or persistent action.

## Examples

- They sat there jawing away for hours about their old school days.
- I tried to finish my book, but my seatmate on the train kept jawing away about his garden for the entire journey.
- While the committee members jawed away about minor budget details, the chairman grew increasingly impatient with the lack of progress on the main agenda.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was jawing away the secret." but "He was jawing away about the secret." — The verb is intransitive in this sense; you cannot 'jaw away' an object like a secret, you must use 'about' or 'on about'.

## Usage notes

- Usually used in the continuous form to emphasize the duration of the talking.
- Teaching tip: Compare with other 'verb + away' constructions like 'chat away' or 'work away' where 'away' indicates persistence or enthusiasm.

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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.