spiel

[ speel, shpeel ]

noun

1. 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)

1. to speak extravagantly.

spiel

/ ʃpiːl /

noun

1. a glib plausible style of talk, associated esp with salesmen

verb

1. intr to deliver a prepared spiel
2. trusually foll byoff to recite (a prepared oration)

Derived Forms

• ˈspieler, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiel¹

First recorded in 1890–95; (for the noun) from German Spiel or Yiddish shpil “play, game”; (for the verb) from German spielen or Yiddish shpiln “to play, gamble”

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiel¹

C19: from German Spiel play

Example Sentences

Why otherwise intelligent people, including political leaders and finance professionals, swallowed his spiel whole is the enduring mystery about Bankman-Fried and crypto.

From Los Angeles Times

They ignore questions put to them, instead launching spiels that most voters are tired of hearing.

From Salon

"I usually get stopped by security, but I give them a big spiel about how exciting the science is and then they get really bored and let me through," she says.

From BBC

After hearing Wimberley’s “spiel” at a meeting of local landowners not long ago, she committed to burning even though she was “really intimidated, and really afraid things will get out of hand.”

From Salon

As Chait notes, "Why do I get the feeling Trump has made a version of this spiel in his personal life?"

From Salon

Related Words

• song and dance