all talk (and no action)

Idioms  

1. Much discussion but no action or results, as in Don't count on Mary's help—she's all talk, or Dave has been saying for months that he'll get a summer job, but he's all talk and no action. This idiom may have begun life as all talk and no cider, which Washington Irving cited as an American proverb in Salmagundi (1807). However, similar sayings antedate it by many years—for example, “The greatest talkers are always the least doers” (John Ray, English Proverbs, 1670).

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Example Sentences

Campaigner Greta Thunberg has said these UN climate summits are just "blah, blah, blah" - meaning all talk and no action.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2023

Several speakers said Friday efforts to address the courthouse safety problems in recent years have been all talk and no action.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 6, 2021

But if he continues to be all talk and no action when it comes to changing, then don’t let him convince you that you’re overreacting or that things aren’t really that bad.

From Slate • Jul. 16, 2018

She really called you on it if you were all talk and no action.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2015

Innis dismissed those efforts as all talk and no action.

From Washington Times • May 31, 2014