prattleprat‧tle /ˈprætl/ verb [intransitive] 
What’s Sarah prattling on about?► see thesaurus at talk—prattle noun [uncountable]—prattler noun [countable]
WORD ORIGINprattle
Origin:
1500-1600 Low German pratelenVERB TABLE
prattle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prattle |
| he, she, it | prattles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | prattled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have prattled |
| he, she, it | has prattled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had prattled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prattle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have prattled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am prattling |
| he, she, it | is prattling | |
| you, we, they | are prattling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was prattling |
| you, we, they | were prattling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been prattling |
| he, she, it | has been prattling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been prattling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be prattling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been prattling |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- And the prospect of the world's leaders prattling away while the Earth burns around them is a pretty gloomy one.
- At dinner they prattled on about the war.
- For the rest of the journey Maria prattled on about Bradford, but Ruth did not hear a word.
- How the hell was he going to get the information he required from her with the conductor prattling about?
- Mme Bluot was most impressed when she heard Didier enter the shop, prattling in a language she did not understand.
- She's a loose-tongued, prattling creature, like most women of her class.
- The Colleen - what a tiring girl she sounds - prattled incessantly of horses.
- To gossip: to natter, to prattle, to chatter, to tittle-tattle, to jabber, to jaw.
THESAURUS
to use words to communicate with someone about something: · I need to talk to you about your work.· She always enjoyed talking to Jim.· Can we talk?
to talk. Speak is a little more formal than talk. You often use it when saying that someone speaks in a particular way, or that you will speak to someone in order to try to get something done. You only use speak when saying that someone speaks a language: · He spoke with confidence and authority.· She was speaking quietly so she didn’t disturb anyone.· I’d like to speak to the manager.· Do you speak German?
to talk too much or for too long about something, in a way that makes people bored: · He went on about how great the team was.· I’d better stop rambling and let you get on with your work.
British English disapproving informal to talk using a lot of words but without saying anything important: · I wish he would stop waffling and get to the point!
disapproving informal to talk continuously about silly and unimportant things: · She prattled on about her boyfriend for the entire journey.· What’s he prattling on about now?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY What’s Sarah prattling on about?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
to talk continuously about silly and unimportant thingsprattle away/on What’s Sarah prattling on about?· For the rest of the journey Maria prattled on about Bradford, but Ruth did not hear a word.· At dinner they prattled on about the war.· The lawmakers prattle on about wanting greater continuity.
What’s Sarah prattling on about?► see thesaurus at talk—prattle noun [uncountable]—prattler noun [countable]