hold forth

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle forth

Meanings

1

Speak at length, often in a self-important way

Open Viewuncommon

Why “forth”? Something comes out of hiding into open view.

He held forth on politics for hours.
He spoke at length, self-importantly, on politics for hours.
The guest held forth about art all evening.
The guest spoke at length about art in a self-important way.

Don't confuse with

hold forthhold behind

Hold forth means speak at length, often in a self-important way. Hold behind means keep someone or something back from going forward.

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He held forth on politics for hours. What does it mean?

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