📒 to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody
- speak to somebody The President refused to speak to reporters.
- speak about something We never spoke about her illness.
- The confidential setting allowed us to speak freely about our concerns.
📒 to use your voice to say something
- The illness left him unable to speak.
- Please speak more slowly.
- Without speaking, she stood up and went out.
📒 to be able to use a particular language
- to speak several languages
- to speak a little Urdu
- Do you speak English?
📒 to use a particular language to express yourself
- speak something What language is it they're speaking?
- speak in something Would you prefer it if we spoke in German?
- What language are they speaking in?
📒 speaking the language mentioned
- French-speaking Canada
- non-English-speaking students
📒 to mention or describe something/somebody
- She still speaks about him with great affection.
- He was speaking publicly for the first time about the incident.
- Witnesses spoke of a great ball of flame.
📒 to make a speech to an audience
- Hundreds of people came to hear her speak.
- + adv./prep. I hate speaking in public.
- He was invited to speak at a conference.
📒 to say or state something
- She was clearly speaking the truth.
- He spoke the final words of the play.
- They had the courage to speak the truth.
📒 what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
📒 to be willing to be polite or friendly towards somebody, especially after an argument
- She's not been on speaking terms with her uncle for years.
- Are they speaking to each other again yet?
- We are still on speaking terms after the argument.
📒 it is not necessary to give any further explanation about something because the information that is available already proves that it is true
📒 used to show that what you are saying is true in a general, etc. way
- Generally speaking, the more you pay, the more you get.
- There are, broadly speaking, two ways of doing this.
- Personally speaking, I've always preferred Italian food.
📒 if you think about it in a particular way; true in some but not all ways
- All these points of view are related, in a manner of speaking.
📒 such a small amount that it is not worth mentioning
- They've got no friends to speak of.
- She's saved a little money but nothing to speak of.
📒 used to emphasize that you are expressing something in an unusual or humorous way
- They were all very similar. All cut from the same cloth, so to speak.
📒 to be so easy to see and understand that you do not need to say anything else about it/them
- Her success speaks for itself.
- Recent events speak for themselves.
📒 to express what you think or want yourself, rather than somebody else doing it for you
- I'm quite capable of speaking for myself, thank you!
📒 used to tell somebody that a general statement they have just made is not true of you
- ‘We didn't play very well.’ ‘Speak for yourself!’ (= I think that I played well.)
📒 to say or think bad things about somebody
- Don't speak ill of the dead.
📒 used to say that you are the type of person mentioned and are expressing your opinion from that point of view
- Speaking as a parent, I'm very concerned about standards in education.
📒 to say exactly what you think, in a very direct way
- She’s never hesitated about speaking her mind.
- Everyone should have the right to speak their mind.
📒 people say speak/talk of the devil when somebody they have been talking about appears unexpectedly
- Well, speak of the devil—here's Alice now!
📒 to say something when you should not, for example because it is not the right time or you are not the right person to say it
📒 to say something that you should not because it is the wrong situation or because it offends somebody
📒 to be able to communicate easily with another person because you share similar opinions and experience
📒 to tell you a lot about something/somebody, without the need for words
- His achievement speaks volumes for his determination.
- What you wear speaks volumes about you.
📒 to say good or bad things about somebody
- She never speaks ill of anyone.
📒 if you are using words or rules in their exact or correct sense
- Strictly speaking, the book is not a novel, but a short story.
- Using the word in that context is not, strictly speaking, correct.