speaking volumes
Conveying much silently
Speaking volumes means communicating a great deal without words, or being highly significant.
A gesture, expression, or situation speaks volumes when it conveys more than explicit statements could: Her silence spoke volumes about her disapproval.
The phrase suggests that meaning is so rich it could fill books: The state of his apartment spoke volumes about his mental health.
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- loud and clearAudible and unambiguous
- silenceTotal lack of sound
unspoken words · subtext · reading between lines · body language · pronouncing · authenticity · empathy · connotation · microexpressions · sincerity · imagery · gestures · facial expressions · meaningful glance · knowing look · raised eyebrow · tone of voice · posture
speaking volumessaying nothing
meaningless · unrevealing · uninformative · uncommunicative · inscrutable
speaking volumeslost in translation
Meaning altered between languages
not worth mentioning · beneath notice · insignificant · trivial · unremarkable
speaking volumespoker-faced
Showing no emotion
tight-lipped · keeping mum · stonewalling · impenetrable · cryptic
speak, speaks, spoken, speaker, speakers, speakable, unspeakable, speaking, outspoken