What does 'talk the talk' mean?

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak with me, Feifei...

Neil: ...and me, Neil.

Feifei: In this programme, we have

an expression you can use

to describe someone who talks

confidently about a topic, but might not

actually know that much about it.

Neil: Which reminds me, Feifei.

Did I tell you that I've started

a new evening course?

Feifei: No. What's it in?

Neil: Well, see if you can guess...

My lords, ladies and gentlemen.

It is indeed an immense

honour and privilege to stand here

before you on this great occasion

and humbly offer

my thoughts...

Feifei: Er... Neil. What are you

going on about?

Neil: Public speaking! It's my new course.

Feifei: Right. Well, you can certainly

talk the talk.

Neil: Oh good - that's the whole point.

Feifei: Hmm. That's not really

a compliment. When we say

someone can talk the talk, it

means they talk a lot about a subject,

but they might not really know

that much about it - even

if they sound confident.

Neil: How dare you! Well, let's hear some

examples of this expression in action.

Oh no, not another meeting chaired

by Binh. He can certainly talk the talk

but he actually

knows nothing!

OK, go in there, talk the talk, and get out

before they realise we don't have

a clue about marketing!

It's one thing talking the talk, but we need

action. We need someone

who can walk the walk.

Feifei: You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning English.

In this programme,

we're looking at the expression

'talk the talk'. It refers to people

who talk confidently

on a topic without necessarily

knowing much about it.

Neil: That's right, Feifei. You know,

you're really quite knowledgeable

about the English

language, aren't you?

Feifei: Thanks.

Neil: I mean, you don't just talk the talk

- you can walk the walk too.

Feifei: Absolutely! As you heard in the

earlier example, and just then

from Neil, the opposite

of 'talk the talk' is 'walk the walk'.

Neil: That refers to someone who shows

their abilities through action -

not just talking.

Feifei: Like you, Neil.

Neil: You know what? I think I'll give up

that public speaking course

and join a hiking club -

to learn how to walk the walk.

Feifei: Ha! Good idea.

Neil: Bye!

Feifei: Bye!