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"Lip Service"

Posted by R. Berg on June 13, 2001

In Reply to: Meaning of "Lip Service" posted by Mariano on June 13, 2001

: What is the meaning of "Lip Service"?

About the same as "talking a good game"; called that because we speak with our mouths. Giving lip service to an ideal (and ideals are where this phrase is usually applied) means saying all the things a person would say who believed in it but not acting so as to promote it. Example: Somebody goes on about the virtue of generosity but refuses to help others.

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