English

Verb

talk through one's hat

1. (idiomatic) To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.
   • c. 1900, Gilbert Parker, "At The Sign Of The Eagle":

     "Mr. Pride said to me a moment ago that they spoke better English in Boston than any other place in the world."

     "Did he, though, Lady Lawless? That's good. Well, I guess he was only talking through his hat."

2. (idiomatic) To assert something as true or valid; to bluff.
   • 1922, P. G. Wodehouse, Right Ho, Jeeves, ch. 14:

     He's conceited and opinionative and argues all the time, even when he knows perfectly well that he's talking through his hat.

Translations

See also

• blaguer
• nonsense
• BS