Belabour: meaning, definitions and examples
🗣️
belabour
[bɪˈleɪbər ]
Definition
discuss thoroughly
To belabour something means to explain or discuss it in excessive detail or for an unnecessarily long time. This term can imply that the speaker is being repetitive and ineffective in their communication. Often, it suggests that the original point has already been made convincingly, and further exposition is neither needed nor helpful.
Synonyms
drone on, elaborate, harp on, overemphasize, repeat.
Examples of usage
- He tends to belabour his main arguments during meetings.
- Stop belabouring the point; we understand your perspective.
- In her lecture, she belaboured the differences between the two theories.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from Middle English, combining 'be-', meaning all around or thoroughly, and 'labour', which means work.
- In its earliest forms, it was used to convey the idea of working hard at something, often suggesting an excessive effort.
Communication
- In conversations, repeating points can make the speaker seem less confident in their ideas.
- Many effective communicators advise against excessive elaboration to keep the audience engaged and attentive.
Literature
- Authors occasionally use the technique of belabouring a point for comedic effect or to highlight a character's stubbornness.
- In academic writing, belabouring a point can lead to unclear arguments and reader fatigue.
Psychology
- Over-explaining can stem from anxiety, where speakers feel the need to validate their points.
- Listeners may experience frustration or decreased interest if topics are belaboured.
Pop Culture
- In satirical shows, characters often belabour absurd points to mimic real-life conversations that have dragged on too long.
- Comedians frequently exaggerate the concept of belabouring for humorous effect, poking fun at how people sometimes don’t know when to stop talking.
Translations
Translations of the word "belabour" in other languages:
🇵🇹 torrar
🇮🇳 कड़ी मेहनत करना
🇩🇪 überbeanspruchen
🇮🇩 memperberat
🇺🇦 перевантажувати
🇵🇱 przemęczać
🇯🇵 過度に働かせる
🇫🇷 épuiser
🇪🇸 agobiar
🇹🇷 aşırı yormak
🇰🇷 과도하게 일하다
🇸🇦 إرهاق
🇨🇿 přetěžovat
🇸🇰 preťažovať
🇨🇳 过度劳累
🇸🇮 preobremeniti
🇮🇸 ofmeta
🇰🇿 артық жүктеу
🇬🇪 მომჭიდროება
🇦🇿 çox yükləmək
🇲🇽 agobiar