spiel

[speel, shpeel]Informal.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spiel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a usually high-flown talk or speech, especially for the purpose of luring people to a movie, a sale, etc.; pitch.

verb (used without object)

to speak extravagantly.

Origin of spiel

1890–95; (noun) < German Spiel or Yiddish shpil play, game; (v.) < German spielen or Yiddish shpiln to play, gamble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spiel

jabber, line, chatter, pitch, jive

Examples from the Web for spiel

Contemporary Examples of spiel

When the crew finally reaches the tribe, they give them their spiel.
Meet the Germans Having Sex to Save the World
Marlow Stern
March 13, 2013

Historical Examples of spiel

I wonder the guards don't refuse their spiel at my coming and going.
Secret Memoirs: The Story of Louise, Crown Princess
Henry W. Fischer
"Aw, boss, that was part of the spiel," he confessed frankly.
From Place to Place
Irvin S. Cobb
That was what worried me most,—could I come across with the standin' spiel?
Torchy, Private Sec.
Sewell Ford
"I don't get it," I said politely, when he'd finished his spiel.
The Dope on Mars
John Michael Sharkey
The boys want me to make a spiel, but the saw is more in my line.
The Lumberjack Sky Pilot
Thomas D. Whittles

British Dictionary definitions for spiel

spiel

noun

a glib plausible style of talk, associated esp with salesmen

verb

(intr) to deliver a prepared spiel

(tr usually foll by off) to recite (a prepared oration)

Derived Formsspieler, noun

Word Origin for spiel

C19: from German Spiel play

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

Word Origin and History for spiel

"glib speech, pitch," 1896, probably from verb (1894) meaning "to speak in a glib manner," earlier "to play circus music" (1870), from German spielen "to play," from Old High German spilon (cognate with Old English spilian "to play"). The noun also perhaps from German Spiel "play, game."