tittle-tattle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Playful, Slightly Old-fashioned
Quick answer
What does “tittle-tattle” mean?
Idle, trivial, or malicious talk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Idle, trivial, or malicious talk; gossip.
Can refer to the act of engaging in such talk, or the content of the talk itself. The word is also used as a verb to describe the act of gossiping.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is understood in both varieties but is equally rare and stylistic.
Connotations
Equally conveys triviality and gossip in both dialects.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. It is a consciously chosen word for stylistic effect.
Grammar
How to Use “tittle-tattle” in a Sentence
[SBJ] tittle-tattles (about [OBJ])He was just tittle-tattling.I'm not interested in [SBJ's] tittle-tattle.the usual tittle-tattleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tittle-tattle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They spent the afternoon tittle-tattling over the garden fence.
- Don't tittle-tattle about your neighbours.
American English
- She's always tittle-tattling on the phone.
- I heard them tittle-tattling in the break room.
adverb
British English
- She spoke tittle-tattlingly about the new couple on the street. (Extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- The article was full of tittle-tattle nonsense.
- He dismissed it as tittle-tattle journalism.
American English
- Ignore those tittle-tattle rumours.
- She writes a tittle-tattle column for the local paper.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Highly unlikely, except perhaps in a very informal or dismissive comment about office rumours.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used to describe trivial gossip, often with a tone of dismissal or light-hearted criticism.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tittle-tattle”
- Using it in a formal context.
- Spelling as "tittle-tattel" or "title-tattle".
- Thinking it has a serious meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and often slightly old-fashioned or playful. It is not suitable for formal writing or speech.
Yes, it can. To 'tittle-tattle' means to gossip idly or spread trivial rumours.
'Gossip' is the standard, more common term. 'Tittle-tattle' is a more specific, often dismissive term that emphasises the trivial, silly, or worthless nature of the talk.
No, it is relatively rare. It is used for stylistic effect, often to sound playful or deliberately old-fashioned, or to strongly dismiss the gossip being discussed.
Idle, trivial, or malicious talk.
Tittle-tattle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɪtl ˌtætl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɪdl ˌtædl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a tittle-tattle”
- “tittle-tattle and pittle-pattle (rare, humorous extension)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound of the word itself: it sounds like the quick, light, repetitive chattering of gossipers.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS NOISE / TRIVIALITY IS SMALLNESS (The reduplication mimics small, insignificant sounds).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely context for the word 'tittle-tattle'?