reden wie ein Buch
to talk incessantly; to talk a blue streak
Origin
The expression alludes to the fact that one can read aloud from a book without stopping - i.e. without thinking - so the person talks endlessly and verbosely. (Not to be confused with knowing a thoroughly.)
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Possessive articles in the dativePossessivartikel im Dativ
- Subordinate clause with 'wenn' (if/when, temporal/conditional)Nebensatz mit 'wenn' (temporal/konditional)
- Adjective endings in the dativeAdjektivendungen im Dativ
- Temporal preposition 'während' (during, + genitive)Temporale Präposition 'während' (+ Genitiv)
- Regular comparative (-er + als 'than')Komparativ regelmäßig (-er + als)
- Superlative (am …-sten)Superlativ (am …-sten)
Examples
Auf der redete er den ganzen wie ein .
At the party he talked a blue streak the whole evening.