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Synonyms

talking head

American  

noun

  1. Television Slang. a closeup picture of a person who is talking, especially as a participant in a talk show.

  2. Slang. a person whose talk is empty and pretentious.

talking head British  

noun

  1. (on television) a person, such as a newscaster, who is shown only from the shoulders up, and speaks without the use of any illustrative material

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of talking head

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Talking head Erick Erickson attacked not only Buttigieg but also the Episcopal church.

From Salon • May 17, 2019

Talking head interviews with the teachers about their jobs are dropped in without explanation, suggesting there’s an Office-style documentary crew hanging around.

From Time • Mar. 22, 2012

Talking head who never played pro football and only spends part of his time gathering information and developing opinions about the NFL on one hand, member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary team on the other.

From Newsweek • Oct. 15, 2010

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.