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Idiom

witter on

phrasal verb B2
/ˈwɪtɚ ɑn/

Meanings

phrasal verb

To talk continuously in a rambling way, often boring or irritating others.

Visual cue for witter on — meaning 1

Definition

To witter on means to talk for too long in a rambling, often slightly annoying way.

If someone witter on, they keep talking without getting to the point. Their speech may jump from topic to topic and include unnecessary details. It is usually used to show mild impatience or criticism of the speaker.

Examples

  • He started to witter on about his commute, and we missed the start of the movie.
  • Please don’t witter on—just tell me what you need.
  • She can witter on for ages when she’s nervous.
  • The presenter wittered on, and the main point got lost.
  • I didn’t mean to witter on, but I was excited.