Meaning & use
silence speaks volumes
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Meaning
phraseidiomfigurative
not saying anything can communicate a clear message, often more strongly than words.
Grammar: A fixed sentence; silence is the subject and there is no object: her silence speaks volumes.
Patterns
- someone's silence speaks volumes
- the silence speaks volumes about something
He refused to deny the story, and his silence speaks volumes.
When nobody clapped, the silence spoke volumes.
The company's silence on the issue speaks volumes.
Common combinations
- his silence speaks volumes
- The minister never answered, and his silence speaks volumes.
- the silence speaks volumes about
- The silence speaks volumes about how they feel.
- her silence spoke volumes
- Her silence spoke volumes when asked about the plan.
- say nothing, speaks volumes
- Saying nothing at all speaks volumes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- says it all
- Says it all is more casual and can apply to things as well as silence.
- tells its own story
- Tells its own story is gentler and need not suggest something negative.
- is telling
- Is telling is a plainer adjective phrase meaning revealing, and it is less vivid.
Word family
Commonly confused: silence speaks volumes or actions speak louder than words?
silence speaks volumes vs actions speak louder than words
This proverb says what people do shows their real intentions; silence speaks volumes is about what they fail to say.
Practice
The politician would not answer the question, and honestly, his silence ___.
Choose one answer.
Speaks volumes is the fixed idiom. The other options are not standard and do not carry the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “silence speaks volumes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.