talk the hind leg off a donkey

talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey

To talk endlessly and exhaustingly. I love my Aunt Lily, but she'd talk the hind legs off a donkey if you let her!
See also: donkey, hind, off, talk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

talk the hind leg off a donkey

BRITISH
If you say that someone could talk the hind leg off a donkey, you mean that they talk a lot. You won't be short of conversation with Adrian. He could talk the hind leg off a donkey.
See also: donkey, hind, leg, off, talk
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

talk the hind leg off a donkey

talk incessantly. British informal
In 1808 talking a horse's hind leg off was described as an ‘old vulgar hyperbole’ in Cobbett's Weekly Political Register , but the version with donkey was current by the mid 19th century. In 1879 Anthony Trollope mentioned talk the hind legs off a dog as an Australian variant.
1970 Nina Bawden The Birds on the Trees Talk, talk—talk the hind leg off a donkey, that one.
See also: donkey, hind, leg, off, talk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

talk the hind leg(s) off a ˈdonkey

(informal, humorous) (usually used with can or could) talk for a long time: He would make a good politician — he could talk the hind legs off a donkey!
See also: donkey, hind, leg, off, talk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
  • can talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
  • donkey
  • (I've) got to take off
  • be off for (something)
  • be off for sth
  • (Now) where was I?
  • be well off for (something)
  • be well off for something
  • be off with you
References in periodicals archive
Whereas my husband Lincoln has masses of energy, can't stand still and, like me, can talk the hind leg off a donkey, Duncan is the complete opposite.
bezzie of the week
HE can talk the hind leg off a donkey and chatty Dermot O'Leary reckons his new job is the closest he's ever going to get to being a big-money signing footballer.
DERMOT'S GOT THE X FACTOR
AS Dot Cotton, she's the chain-smoking gossip of EastEnders who can talk the hind leg off a donkey.
Meet the big hairy fella who can pull Sharron Davies!
Little happens and none of the characters strike any spark, although they compete to see who can talk the hind leg off a donkey. Ridicule
SECRETS IS TOPS; Bittersweet slice of family traumas
Sandra was eventually able to do simple household tasks and make cups of tea, could talk the hind leg off a donkey, knit for England and cross-stitched many a beautiful picture.
Faith in the future; Your say
When I'm with them I talk the hind leg off a donkey and can sing and dance with them.Why should they feel they should provide my only company?
I am fearing for my barman son