blether
Talk without substance
Blether is Scottish and Northern English dialect for idle talk or chatter, and the verb for engaging in it: We sat blethering for hours over tea.
A blether is also a person who talks too much nonsense.
The word carries affection rather than harsh judgment—blethering is aimless but sociable.
Also spelled blather.
Light, aimless conversation
- yammerComplain loudly, persistently
- jabberTalk rapidly, incoherently
- gabLight, meaningless talk
- yakHimalayan ox or chatter
prattle · gabble · chinwag · yatter · patter · tattle · waffle · twitter
Informal verbal exchange
- talkVerbal exchange between people
- confabInformal discussion or meeting
- jawBone holding teeth
- schmoozeChat to gain favor
banter · small talk · chew the fat · shoot the breeze · rap · crack · craic · catch-up
Trivial, prolonged speech
- drivelSenseless, silly talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- gibberishUnintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
poppycock · claptrap · hogwash · codswallop · piffle · bunkum · flapdoodle · gobbledygook
Trivial, idle chatter
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
buzz · dirt · scuttlebutt · tattle · backbiting · chitchat · idle talk · loose talk
Veering off topic
- meanderTo travel without direction
- maunderSpeak in unfocused circles
- waffleGridded breakfast cake
- droneUnmanned flying machine
monologue · verbosity · prolixity · long-windedness · going on · carrying on
natter
Light, aimless conversation
yak · prattle · gabble · chinwag · yatter · patter · tattle · waffle · twitter · burble
chat
Informal verbal exchange
schmooze · banter · small talk · chew the fat · shoot the breeze · rap · crack · craic · catch-up
prattle
Trivial, prolonged speech
balderdash · poppycock · claptrap · hogwash · codswallop · piffle · bunkum · flapdoodle · gobbledygook · rubbish
tittle-tattle
Trivial, idle chatter
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
whisper · buzz · dirt · scuttlebutt · tattle · backbiting · chitchat · idle talk · loose talk
digression
Veering off topic
drone · monologue · verbosity · prolixity · long-windedness · going on · carrying on
blethersubstance
Physical material with mass
wisdom · profundity · insight · eloquence · gravitas
bletherbrevity
Shortness of expression
conciseness · terseness · succinctness · pithy · to the point