like the sound of one’s own voice: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘like the sound of one's own voice’ mean?
"Like the sound of one's own voice" means enjoying hearing oneself speak and often talking excessively, without considering if others are interested or engaged. It refers to a self-centered and unaware behavior.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "talk to oneself" means to speak aloud to oneself. It can indicate that someone is reflecting, rehearsing, or expressing their thoughts or feelings out loud without intending to communicate with others.
The idiom "pleased with oneself" means to feel a sense of satisfaction or pride in one's achievements or abilities, often to an excessive or self-centered extent.
The idiom "out of one's mind" means to be mentally deranged or insane.
The idiom "out loud" means to speak audibly or vocalize one's thoughts or words so that others can hear.
The idiom "open one's mouth" means to start speaking or expressing an opinion. It implies breaking silence or sharing thoughts.
The idiom "on one's own" means to do something independently, without help or support from others.
The idiom "on one's lonesome" means to be alone or without any companions. It emphasizes the feeling of solitude or isolation that one may experience.
The idiom "one's heart in one's mouth" means to be extremely anxious or fearful.
"One-note" as an idiom refers to someone or something that is limited in their abilities or characteristics, lacking variety or depth. It implies a lack of range or flexibility, often used to describe a person who has a single focus or interest.
The idiom "one could hear a pin drop" means that there is complete silence or stillness in a place, to the extent that even the smallest sound, like the dropping of a pin, would be easily heard.
Decoding Self-Adoration's Chorus
Like the sound of one's own voice is an idiom commonly used in English-speaking countries, including the United States. It has a fixed, metaphorical meaning that refers to a person who enjoys hearing themselves talk and often talks excessively or unnecessarily, without considering the thoughts or opinions of others.
This idiom is derived from the literal act of enjoying the sound of one's own voice. It suggests that people who like the sound of their own voice are often oblivious to the impact they have on others, as they talk on and on, monopolizing conversations and showing little regard for whether others are interested or engaged.
When using the idiom like the sound of one's own voice, it creates a vivid image in the minds of English speakers. It allows them to relate to situations where someone's self-centeredness and lack of consideration for others becomes apparent. It can be used to describe a person who dominates a conversation, a lecturer who excessively talks without allowing for any participation from the audience, or someone who typically doesn't listen to others and only focuses on expressing their own thoughts and opinions.
This idiom is commonly employed in informal situations, such as casual conversations, discussions among friends, or even in workplace environments when describing a colleague or boss who tends to talk excessively without considering the input or interest of others.
Related to this idiom is the phrase "talk to oneself." This phrase describes the act of speaking out loud when no one else is present. It may seem strange to some, but it is a common behavior that can be seen as an extension of the idiom. People who enjoy the sound of their own voice may engage in talking to oneself as a way to indulge this enjoyment without the need for an audience.
Another related idiom is "at the top of one's voice." This phrase is used to describe someone who speaks very loudly, often in a way that can be disruptive or annoying to others. People who like the sound of their own voice may not only talk excessively, but they may also do so at a volume that is excessively loud, drawing attention to themselves and further disregarding the thoughts or opinions of others.
One can also connect the idiom to the phrase "pleased with oneself." This phrase is used to describe someone who is excessively self-satisfied or self-congratulatory. People who like the sound of their own voice may often be pleased with themselves and believe that their own thoughts and opinions are superior to others. This self-satisfaction can contribute to their tendency to dominate conversations and disregard the input of others.
Another related phrase is "out loud." This phrase is used to describe the act of speaking audibly rather than silently or in one's mind. People who like the sound of their own voice may prefer to speak out loud, as it allows them to hear and indulge in the sound of their own voice. It also serves as a means of drawing attention to themselves and their thoughts, continuing their self-centered behavior.
The phrase "mind's ear" can also be associated with the idiom. It is often used to describe someone's imagination or internal thoughts. People who like the sound of their own voice may have a strong "mind's ear" and enjoy listening to their own thoughts and opinions. This internal satisfaction reinforces their self-absorbed behavior and inhibits their ability to consider the perspectives or input of others.
So, whether it's talking to oneself, speaking at the top of one's voice, being pleased with oneself, speaking out loud, or indulging in the sound of the mind's ear, the idiom like the sound of one's own voice encompasses all these related phrases. It paints a picture of individuals who are self-absorbed and lack self-awareness, as they dominate conversations, disregard others, and indulge in the sound of their own voice.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "like the sound of one's own voice" can be used in a sentence:
- She always dominates the conversation and likes the sound of her own voice.
- He tends to go on and on, never realizing that nobody else likes the sound of his own voice.
- They are so self-absorbed that they can't help but like the sound of their own voices.
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