talk is cheap

American

idiom

(used to say that a person's words alone are not necessarily trustworthy, and that actions are more meaningful than words; often implies that a person's actions will not live up to their promises.)

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.

Coal miners watched the “dual carbon” pledges and concluded, reasonably, that talk is cheap but contracts are enforceable.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

But, as the saying goes, talk is cheap.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

Seems that when it comes to making promises from an airline like United, talk is cheap.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2024

All they’ve proven is the old adage that talk is cheap.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2023

There is no blindness where the talk is cheap.

From Geography and Plays by Stein, Gertrude

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