SPIEL
What does "SPIEL" mean?
A glib, rehearsed speech meant to persuade or sell.
Meanings
- A lengthy, often rehearsed or extravagant speech, especially a sales pitch. The vendor launched into his spiel before we'd even slowed down. informal
- To talk volubly or reel off a practiced pitch. He spieled about the warranty until our eyes glazed over. informal
Word origin
From German/Yiddish 'spiel' (play, game), from German 'spielen' (to play); entered American English in the late 19th century via Yiddish-speaking communities.
Remember it
SPIEL sounds like 'speel' and contains 'lie' reversed-ish in spirit: a smooth pitch you should half-believe.
A little poem
He sold the moon, the stars, the deal-
and all I bought was the price of his spiel.
couplet
Wordplay
- The salesman's spiel was like a wheel: round and round, and you still ended up where you started, only poorer.
What it teaches
A rehearsed pitch reveals the seller's needs, not yours; listen for what it leaves out.
Quick facts
What does SPIEL mean?
A glib, rehearsed speech meant to persuade or sell.
Is SPIEL a valid word?
Yes — SPIEL is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SPIEL?
SPIEL has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SPIEL come from?
From German/Yiddish 'spiel' (play, game), from German 'spielen' (to play); entered American English in the late 19th century via Yiddish-speaking communities.
What can SPIEL teach us?
A rehearsed pitch reveals the seller's needs, not yours; listen for what it leaves out.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.