WordGarden.ioblab
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /blˈæb/
US
- /ˈblæb/
Meanings
Verb
to talk too much in a foolish or indiscreet way
to reveal a secret or private information by talking
Noun
foolish or indiscreet chatter
Beyond the definition
If someone blabs, they let private information out too freely, often without realizing it should stay hidden. It's more than just talking a lot; it's letting a secret slip through carelessness or a lack of discretion. Think of a leaky faucet slowly dripping out water. You might share everything with your best friend, but you wouldn't want them to blab to everyone else! The word often sounds playful but has a light scolding edge—like when someone says, "Don't blab about the surprise party!" It usually points to poor discretion and weak trust.
To blab means to talk carelessly and reveal information that should stay private, often by accident. It's more informal than "reveal" or "disclose" and usually carries a teasing, mildly disapproving tone. The word can imply careless, gossipy chatter as well as outright leaking secrets. The origin is thought to come from the sound of someone talking quickly and foolishly—almost like babbling!
You might say, "He blabbed the whole story before I could even warn him not to," meaning he revealed everything without thinking. Or, "I asked her to keep it a secret, but she blabs to everyone!" It’s often used when someone breaks confidence or lets slip information they should have kept.
While blab can simply mean talking at length, its core meaning is about careless disclosure. Unlike confess, which implies admitting wrongdoing, blabbing is usually about loose lips and unintentional disclosure. It can suggest someone isn't very good at keeping a secret—or doesn’t fully grasp why it needed to stay private. So if you have juicy news, be careful who you tell: you don’t want them to blab!
Examples
- 1
Secret
Don't blab about the surprise party.
- 2
School gossip
I told him one small detail, and he blabbed it to the whole class.
- 3
Media leak
No one wanted to work with him after he blabbed to the press.
- Phraseblab to the press
tell journalists private information
- 4
Office gossip
She promised not to blab, but by lunch everyone in the office knew.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- blabverb
Forms
- blabbing-ing formverb
- blabbedpast tenseverb
- blabsverb