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. to recite (a prepared oration)

Other Word Forms

• spieler 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

The gist of Miller’s spiel — in fact, the worldview that he has been espousing for years — is that “illegal aliens” are responsible for all those ills, and exclusively responsible.

From Los Angeles Times

With “The Phoenician Scheme,” Anderson is celebrating the art of the spiel, the capitalism that artists are supposed to be against.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, we see the Muppets, also celebrating a 70th anniversary, try and fail to give a safety spiel.

From Los Angeles Times

He has long integrated assertions about a third term into his political spiel.

From Salon

The playoff music, meant to signal winners to wrap up their spiels, began playing more than halfway into Brody’s speech.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• song and dance