double talk

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

double talk noun

1. rapid speech with a mixture of nonsense syllables and real words; gibberish
2. empty, deceptive, or ambiguous talk, esp by politicians

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈdou•ble-ˌtalk or ˈdou•bleˌtalk, n. [uncountable]

1. Linguistics speech or language that has two or more meanings, or has no meaning at all, but is used deliberately to deceive:
   When I asked about his work, all I got was double-talk about "efficiency engineering.''

v. 

2. to use double-talk:
   [no object] He was just double-talking, full of generalities and promising nothing.
3. to persuade (someone) by double-talk:
   [~ + object (+ into + object)] He double-talked us (into doing what he wanted).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dou•ble-talk  (dub′əl tôk′), n. 

1. Linguistics speech using nonsense syllables along with words in a rapid patter.
2. deliberately evasive or ambiguous language:
   When you try to get a straight answer, he gives you double-talk.

v.i. 

3. to engage in double-talk.

v.t. 

4. to accomplish or persuade by double-talk.

Also, dou′ble•talk′. 

• 1935–40, American.

dou′ble-talk′er, n.