Definition

Noun: 1. Deliberately unclear or ambiguous speech: Speech that is intentionally confusing, evasive, or meaningless, often used to avoid giving a direct answer or to deceive while appearing to communicate. 2. Gibberish or nonsense: Rapid, unintelligible, or nonsensical speech that is difficult to understand.

Usage

"Double talk" is used to describe communication that is purposefully obscure. It implies that the speaker is being dishonest, evasive, or is using complex jargon to confuse the listener rather than to inform.

Examples

• The politician's answer was pure double talk; he spoke for five minutes without saying anything of substance.
• Don't give me that double talk; just tell me clearly if the project is on time or not.
• The contract's fine print was full of legal double talk that confused most customers.

Advanced Usage

• To engage in double talk: To speak in a deliberately evasive or confusing manner.
  • The spokesperson seemed to be engaging in double talk to avoid the reporter's tough questions.

Variants and Related Words

• Double-talk (verb, less common): To speak using double talk.
  • He double-talked his way through the interview.
• Doubletalk (noun, alternative spelling): A single-word variant with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Gibberish: Unintelligible or meaningless speech.
• Gobbledygook: Language that is meaningless or hard to understand, especially due to excessive jargon.
• Mumbo jumbo: Confusing or meaningless language, often associated with ritual or superstition.
• Equivocation: The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing to a position.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To speak in circles / To beat around the bush: To avoid addressing a topic directly (similar in evasiveness but not necessarily as confusing as double talk).
• Word salad: A confused or unintelligible mixture of words, often associated with certain mental conditions (differs as it is not necessarily deliberate).

Noun

1. deliberately unintelligible gibberish