this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
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Can we wax lyrical about phrases like wax lyrical as well? I haven't really thought about it before but I assume it has the same origin as waxing of the moon. Maybe the opposite is "wane disjointedly", for those situations where you suddenly realise you have no idea where you are going with what you are saying an lurch awkwardly to an abrupt finish.
I've always used 'wax lyrical' to describe someone speaking of a topic in enchanting detail - not boring at all but both comprehensively and rigorously. A good after dinner speech should wax lyrical, but also be accurate in detail. Does this fit your understanding?
Absolutely. The lyrical would imply the speach is entertaining, and wax is growth/increase, which probably refers to both the amount of speaking itself, but also the knowledge that it imports, as opposed to something repetitious that adds nothing new.
etymology reply 2
You're pretty much spot on. Wax meaning 'grow bigger/greater', so 'wax lyrical' is enthusiasm regarding a topic or person, talking at great length about it.Wax with this meaning only really survives in the 'wax lyrical' idiom, and when talking about the phases of the moon.
😂