speak volumes

• Audio (General Australian):

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• Hyphenation: speak vol‧umes

speak volumes (third-person singular simple present speaks volumes, present participle speaking volumes, simple past spoke volumes, past participle spoken volumes)

1. To talk a great deal.

   Synonym: tell volumes

   I can speak volumes about this school.

2. To convey significant information beyond what is explicit, especially unintentionally.

   Synonyms: say it all, tell volumes

   Hypernym: connote

   In our day-to-day experiences, it is often such nonverbal emotional information carried by the human voice that “speaks volumes.”

3. (of an action, situation, or object) To convey significant information.

   Synonym: tell volumes

   The way you listen speaks volumes.

   The lighted decorated Christmas tree, a treat for all, speaks volumes of meaning.

   • 1990, Roy Hollis, Eve, New York, N.Y.: Vantage Press, →ISBN:

     I waited, anticipating her reply. Her hesitation spoke volumes.

   • 2016 March 27, Daniel Taylor, “Eric Dier seals England’s stunning comeback against Germany”, in The Guardian‎, London, archived from the original on 1 April 2016:

     Two-nil down, playing the World Cup winners in Berlin, England’s response spoke volumes for the spirit of togetherness Hodgson has been trying to foster and provided a victory that will be remembered with the kind of fondness usually reserved for the 5–1 win in Munich from an entirely different era.

• “speak volumes”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.