make noises

make noises
make noises
1 : to talk about something in usually an indirect way
— usually + about

She started making noises about running for office. [=she started saying things that showed she was thinking about running for office]

Her parents are making noises about wanting a grandchild.

The government has been making some encouraging noises about the possibility of a tax cut.

2 : to make statements of a specified kind

The company has been making soothing/reassuring noises to calm the fears of investors.

— often used to suggest that the things being said are not sincere or effective

Politicians are making (all) the right noises about improving the schools, but they don't want to spend any money to do it.

• • •
Main Entry:noise

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • make noises about something — make noises about (something) to talk generally about something that you might do. Recently they have made noises about wanting to do a TV series together …   New idioms dictionary

  • make noises about — (something) to talk generally about something that you might do. Recently they have made noises about wanting to do a TV series together …   New idioms dictionary

  • make noises — to talk about something that you might do, but not in a detailed or certain way. She s been making noises about going back to college …   New idioms dictionary

  • make noises (about something) — …   Useful english dictionary

  • make encouraging noises — make encouraging/sympathetic/etc noises phrase to say things to encourage someone, show sympathy etc He made reassuring noises about their financial problems. Thesaurus: to feel or express sympathysynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • make (all) the right noises — phrase to say things that make people think you are interested in something She makes all the right noises about economic reform. Thesaurus: to say something in a particular wayhyponym general words meaning to say somethingsynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • make soothing noises — make soothing, encouraging, reassuring, etc. noises idiom to make remarks of the kind mentioned, even when that is not what you really think • He made all the right noises at the meeting yesterday (= said what people wanted to hear). Main entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • make reassuring noises — make soothing, encouraging, reassuring, etc. noises idiom to make remarks of the kind mentioned, even when that is not what you really think • He made all the right noises at the meeting yesterday (= said what people wanted to hear). Main entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • make all the right noises — make (all) the right noises to seem to be enthusiastic about something. I think she liked my presentation. She certainly made all the right noises …   New idioms dictionary

  • make the right noises — make (all) the right noises to seem to be enthusiastic about something. I think she liked my presentation. She certainly made all the right noises …   New idioms dictionary

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