The term "speak potable" originates from the Italian peninsula; it is a coined expression to convey the need for a more fluid and understandable conversation, akin to potable water. If someone "speaks potable," it means they are proficient in expressing themselves well in the language.
Example 1:
Rizu: "I'm preparing a presentation for tomorrow's meeting."
Slend: "Make sure to speak potable; we need to be clear with all the details."
Example 2:
Slend: "I overheard their discussion, but they didn't seem to speak potable at all."
Rizu: "It's important to communicate clearly, especially in important conversations."
Rizu: "I'm preparing a presentation for tomorrow's meeting."
Slend: "Make sure to speak potable; we need to be clear with all the details."
Example 2:
Slend: "I overheard their discussion, but they didn't seem to speak potable at all."
Rizu: "It's important to communicate clearly, especially in important conversations."
by Slurpish December 20, 2023

Advice to CEOs everywhere: Most of da folks who call your service-center will need to verbally inquire/protest about their matter of business --- i.e., their question or issue is not something dat they can resolve themselves by merely using your automated phone system --- and so why not offer them DAT option FIRST, rather than making them suffer through a whole tedious-and-useless-to-them menu-litany before their exasperated ears eventually hear da welcome words, "To speak with a customer service representative, press 9"?! Why subject their distressed/confused/hurried selves to those other eight "press one for this, press two for this" possibilities which they very seldom could use, anyway?!
P.S. And yes, we already know da answer to this question: namely, da board of directors hope dat one of da other non-human-interaction options will work for a particular caller, thus saving da company time and money by having to hire fewer phone-secretaries. But da point here is dat this so seldom actually happens in real life --- again, most people who call customer service do so precisely because they ARE needing to speak to someone at da company about their problem --- and so why needlessly delay them from getting da info and/or assistance they need to resolve their issue, when most of them are gonna end up having to speak to a customer service rep anyway, and so those other options dat you're offering them will seldom actually save any time or additional-employee salaries in da end?
P.S. And yes, we already know da answer to this question: namely, da board of directors hope dat one of da other non-human-interaction options will work for a particular caller, thus saving da company time and money by having to hire fewer phone-secretaries. But da point here is dat this so seldom actually happens in real life --- again, most people who call customer service do so precisely because they ARE needing to speak to someone at da company about their problem --- and so why needlessly delay them from getting da info and/or assistance they need to resolve their issue, when most of them are gonna end up having to speak to a customer service rep anyway, and so those other options dat you're offering them will seldom actually save any time or additional-employee salaries in da end?
by QuacksO May 20, 2023

"Figuratively speaking" is a phrase used to clarify that the speaker is not speaking literally but rather using figurative language to make a point or convey a concept.
When someone says "figuratively speaking," they are typically emphasizing that the statement should not be taken literally but rather as a figure of speech or an exaggeration for effect.
When someone says "figuratively speaking," they are typically emphasizing that the statement should not be taken literally but rather as a figure of speech or an exaggeration for effect.
by StimHands June 6, 2024

You say "the unholy shmuley won't let me speak" When someone keeps on interrupting you or when you are debating with someone and you want to trivialize him and his arguments
by Yang007 December 8, 2023

it’s like a drunk bum on the street… fucked up and talking shit, mainly to themselves . Think shadow boxing alone with his shadow
He paced the sidewalk like Luke Skywalker gone rogue, spewing hobo speak—gibberish laced with fury, cursing the sky like it stole his last smoke.
by Billy Pang March 31, 2025

by Bigdolphinkodeine May 23, 2018
