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 1633. Ford, 'Tis Pity, i. 3. I find all these but dreams, and old men's tales, To fright unsteady youth.

1729. Swift, Adv. to Ser. 'Gen. Direct.' The only remedy is to bribe them with goody goodies, that they may not tell tales to papa and mamma.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 378. If ever I find that you tell tales out of school I will give you such a basting as you never had in your life.

Talesman, subs. (old).—'The author of a story or report: I'll tell you my tale and my talesman' (B. E. and Grose).

Talent (The), subs. (racing).—In sing. = a backer (q.v.): as opposed to a layer or bookmaker.

1885. Field, 3 Oct. All the talent were discomfited, though; as they often are in nurseries.

Talk, verb. (stable).—To roar (q.v.): of horses. Hence talker = a roarer.

Colloquial Phrases, etc.—To talk one down = to silence; to talk one out of = to dissuade; to talk over = (1) to persuade: also to talk into; and (2) to review; to talk round = to review a subject; to talk up = (1) to speak plainly (or defiantly); and (2) = to discuss with a view to promotion; to talk one up = to urge; to talk out = to exhaust patience, time, etc.; to talk to = to chide: hence talking-to = a reprimand; to talk at = to gird or chide covertly: talking of a person who is present to another; to talk the hind leg off a jackass (cow, horse, etc.) = to seduce, to wheedle, to charm: also to talk one mad, to death, into a thing, fever, etc.; to talk Greek, Dutch (or Double Dutch) = to talk nonsense; to talk through one's neck (American) = to talk foolishly; to talk turkey = to say pleasant things. Also 'Talk of the Angels (or the Devil) and you'll hear the rustling of their wings (or see his horns). See Big; Dutch-uncle; Shop; Tall-talk.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, ii. 1. 369. If they were but a week married they would talk themselves mad.

1693. Vanbrugh, Old Bachelor Talk of the Devil see where he comes. Ibid. (1706), Mistake. [We will] talk him into [it].

1699. Brown, Works, i. 206. I was within an ace of being talked to death.

1704. Swift, Tale of a Tub, 'Author's Pref.' He may ring the Changes as far as it will go, and vary his phrase till he has talked round.

1717. Prior [Manley, Lucius, Epil.]. We'll talk you all to Death.

1777. Sheridan, School for Scandal, iv. 3. And now we will talk over the situation of your affairs with Maria.

1816. Austen, Emma, xxii. She had talked her into love; but, alas! she was not so easily to be talked out of it.

1838. Beckett, Paradise Lost, 84. Prithee, good woman, leave your mag off; By George, you'd talk a dog's hind leg off.

1847. Tennyson, Princess, v. Her that talk'd down the fifty wisest men.

1859. Bartlett, Americanisms, s.v. Talk The story is an old one, that an Indian and a white man, after a day's hunting, had only a turkey and a partridge to show for game. The white man proposed to divide them, and said to the Indian, "Take your choice. You can have the partridge, and I'll take the turkey; or I'll take the turkey, and you may have the partridge." "Ugh!" said the Indian, "you don't talk turkey to me any."

1864. New Haven Register [Bartlett]. They are not the only ones who talk turkey, and rob the soldiers of what is contributed for their benefit.

18[?]. McClintock, Beedle's Marriage. Polly Bean was not the first girl I run against, by a long shot; and I was plaguy apt to talk turkey always when I got sociable, if it was only out of politeness.