talk is cheap


Also found in: Wikipedia.

talk is cheap

It is very easy to talk about what one is going to do or what the correct course of action is, but it is much harder one actually puts those words into action. A: "I just need a little more time, and I can fix this whole mess—I swear!" B: "Talk is cheap, Bill. If you don't have this sorted out by Friday, you're fired." You keep saying you're going to start eating better and getting in shape, but talk is cheap.
See also: cheap, talk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Talk is cheap.

Prov. It is easier to say you will do something than to actually do it. (Saying this in response to someone who promises you something implies that you do not believe that person will keep the promise.) My boss keeps saying she'll give me a raise, but talk is cheap. You've been promising me a new dishwasher for five years now. Talk is cheap.
See also: cheap, talk
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
See also:
References in periodicals archive ?
Talk is cheap, and you won't learn a thing by just reading about it; you need to get out and try the techniques.
But talk is cheap and I've got to get in there and prove it."
"Your talk is cheap. You always talk but you don't deliver in the ring."
"Talk is cheap and you have to produce performances on the field.
But talk is cheap - and those medals are damn hard to win."
He said: "Talk is cheap. We did talk a lot about ambition last summer when I cam here, but you could see what Middlesbrough were trying to do.
Talking PM is great, but talk is cheap without a little action, lf you're gonna talk the PM talk, you've gotta walk the PM walk.
But talk is cheap, and putting a critical view of a black personality in print is a different matter, especially when a black hand is doing the writing.
Well, excuse me for being such a party pooper, but talk is cheap and whatever happened to good old penance?
But if TV talk is cheap, talk radio truly represents programming on a shoestring.
As ever, the only comment which fits Mr Brown's speech is "talk is cheap" as we all know nothing will be done to avoid tragedies like the mother and daughter who burned themselves to death rather than take any more abuse.
Talk is cheap and it is the way commonly used to avoid the simple solution.