Communicating or Discussing (On): English Vocabulary List

to speak at length in a tedious manner, often to the point of being boring or uninteresting

"The speaker droned on boringly."

"The speaker droned on for nearly two hours about topics that did not interest anyone in the audience at all."

to provide more details, information, or a more comprehensive explanation about a particular topic or idea

"Please expand on your main argument."

"The professor asked the student to expand on his answer because the first response was too short and vague."

to start discussing or addressing a specific topic or subject in a conversation or discussion

"Let's get on to the next point."

"After explaining the basics the teacher got on to the more advanced topics that the students had been waiting to learn."

to repeatedly talk or complain about something, often in an annoying or boring manner

"Stop harping on that mistake."

"My mother always harps on me about cleaning my room even though I am a grown adult now."

to declare one's judgment or authoritative opinion about something

"The judge pronounced on the case."

"The judge will pronounce on the legality of the new law after hearing arguments from both sides."

to inform someone about something or someone useful

"He put me on to this book."

"My friend put me on to a great new restaurant that serves the best pizza I have ever tasted."

to talk or write in a long, unfocused, and aimless way

"He rambled on about nothing."

"The old man rambled on about his childhood for hours without noticing that no one was listening to him anymore."

to inform someone of surprising news or information

"She did not spring it on him."

"My boss decided to spring on the team the news about the sudden company merger during the meeting."

to briefly mention a subject in written or spoken discussion

"The lecture touched on many topics."

"The lecture touched on many important topics but did not explore any of them in great detail."

to talk continuously about unimportant matters

"He wittered on endlessly."

"The politician wittered on about unimportant details while the real issues were completely ignored by everyone in the room."

to officially ask a person or organization to do something

"We call on them."

"The United Nations will call on all member states to contribute to the relief efforts."

to have a good, friendly, or smooth relationship with a person, group, or animal

"We get on well."

"Despite their initial differences, the new colleagues managed to get on very well from the start."

to flirt with someone, often with romantic or sexual intentions

"Strangers often hit on her at bars."

"The man at the bar tried to hit on her but she was not interested at all."