spiel

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
  2. verb replay (as a melody)
  3. verb speak at great length (about something)

Etymology

Borrowed from German Spiel (“game, performance”) or Yiddish שפּיל (shpil), both from Middle High German spil, from Old High German spil, from Proto-West Germanic *spil. Cognate with Old English spilian (“to revel, play”). See speel.

In classic literature

Synonyms

patter, line of gab

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