cheap talk
Words without commitment
Cheap talk is communication that costs nothing to make and carries no binding commitment.
In economics and game theory, it refers to signals that can't be verified and therefore may not be credible: His promise to help was just cheap talk.
More broadly, cheap talk dismisses statements as empty or insincere—words without action behind them: Politicians are full of cheap talk before elections.
- empty promisesInsincere verbal commitments
- empty wordsInsincere, meaningless talk
- blusterLoud, empty boasting
- hot airMeaningless boastful talk
- lip serviceInsincere expression of agreement
mere words · platitudes · pie in the sky · bluffing · idle threats · sweet nothings · flattery · insincerity · weasel words · posturing · bravado · spin · rhetoric · salesmanship · snake oil · hand-waving · grandstanding · windbag
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- empty promiseslip service, broken vows, false hope, hot air, overpromising
- game theoryzero-sum game, prisoners dilemma, minimax, payoff, equilibrium
- Empty Gestureslip service, crocodile tears, token effort, empty promise, going through motions
cheap talkbinding agreement
Enforceable mutual commitment
sworn oath · covenant · blood oath · guarantee · vow
cheap talkskin in the game
Personal risk in outcome
walking the walk · burning bridges · sacrifice · earnest money · down payment
cheap talksubstance
Physical material with mass
walking the talk · follow-through · straight talk · plain dealing · real talk
cheap, talk, cheaper, cheapest, cheaply, cheapness, cheapen, cheapened, cheapening