"talk through one's hat" 是一个口语化的英语短语,核心含义是:信口开河、胡说八道、发表毫无根据/不负责任的言论(to speak without knowing what you are talking about, or to say things that are not true)。
这个表达起源于19世纪美国口语,字面直译是“从帽子里说话”。旧时帽子是常见服饰,但“从帽子里说”隐含“内容如同从空帽子里掏出来的——没有实质、未经思考”,逐渐引申为“说话没根据”。
1、 词性与结构:
是动词短语,主语通常是人,需根据主语替换物主代词(one's → his/her/your/their等)。
时态变化:talked through one's hat(过去式)、talking through one's hat(现在分词)。
2、 使用场景:
用于批评或否定某人的言论,强调其内容“无依据、不可信”,多在口语对话中使用(非正式场合)。
Don’t listen to him—he’s talking through his hat about how to fix the car. He’s never even changed a tire!
别听他的——他对修车的事儿信口开河,他连轮胎都没换过!
The so-called “expert” was talking through her hat when she claimed the diet could cure cancer.
那个所谓的“专家”说这种饮食能治癌症,纯粹是胡说八道。
I knew he was talking through his hat about the company’s profits—he didn’t even look at the financial reports.
我知道他关于公司利润的话是瞎编的——他根本没看财务报表。
近义词:talk nonsense(说废话)、spout rubbish(大放厥词)、make up stories(编造故事)、shoot from the hip(随口乱说,更强调“不加思考”)。
注意区分:
"shoot the breeze" 是“闲聊、瞎侃”(无恶意,只是随便聊),不等于“胡说”;
"lie" 是“说谎”(故意编造事实),而"talk through one's hat" 更强调“没根据、不懂装懂”。
该短语非常口语化,不适合正式写作(如学术论文、商务邮件),更适合日常对话或非正式文本。
物主代词需与主语一致:He talks through his hat. / She talks through her hat. / They talk through their hat(s)(复数也可)。
总之,"talk through one's hat" 是用来吐槽他人“没根据的言论”的实用口语,记住核心:说话没谱、不懂装懂!