noun / verb
spiel
SHPEEL/ʃpiːl/
A rehearsed or slickly delivered talk meant to persuade, or to give such a talk.
The salesman continues his polished spiel as the customer grows weary.
Etymology
The connection to German “play” probably runs through an English verb that shifted from playing circus music to speaking glibly, yielding the sense of a persuasive pitch.
In context
too many faces like the country song said we're always going to be looking in the wrong place unless we apply these teachings and apply these metaphysics so that's my spiel for this morning
More examples
- She recognizes the spiel from his previous visit.
- He spiels about the product's supposed advantages.
- We listen politely to the guide's enthusiastic spiel.
Forms
spiel · spiels · spieled · spieling
Similar words
- pitch
- A persuasive presentation that need not sound slick or over-rehearsed.
- sales talk
- Sales talk promotes a purchase; spiel can be any polished, repetitive persuasive performance.