English Meaning & Definitions
A retort used to point out that the person criticizing or commenting on someone else's behavior is guilty of the same fault.
- “He told me I was being lazy, but I said, 'You can talk! You haven't finished your report in three weeks.'”
- “When she complained about my messy desk, I replied, 'You can talk, look at your own office!'”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “you can talk”.
An idiomatic expression derived from the modal verb 'can' (denoting ability or permission) and the verb 'talk' (to communicate). In colloquial English, this phrase is frequently used as a retort to highlight hypocrisy, implying that the speaker is in no position to criticize others because they are guilty of the same behavior.
Imagine someone pointing a finger at you while doing the exact same thing; think 'You can talk? Look in the mirror first!'
Frequently Asked Questions About “you can talk”
1. What is the meaning of “you can talk” in English?
In English, you can talk (idiom) is defined as: “A retort used to point out that the person criticizing or commenting on someone else's behavior is guilty of the same fault.”.
2. How do you use “you can talk” in a sentence?
“He told me I was being lazy, but I said, 'You can talk! You haven't finished your report in three weeks.'”
3. What are English synonyms of “you can talk”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “you can talk”?
An idiomatic expression derived from the modal verb 'can' (denoting ability or permission) and the verb 'talk' (to communicate). In colloquial English, this phrase is frequently used as a retort to highlight hypocrisy, implying that the speaker is in no position to criticize others because they are guilty of the same behavior.
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