HARPING ON Meaning and
Definition
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"Harping on" is a phrase that is commonly used to describe the act of persistently or repeatedly talking, complaining, or nagging about a particular subject or issue. It implies a sense of continuous repetition or insistence on a topic, often with a negative connotation.
When someone is harping on about something, they continually emphasize, discuss, or point out a particular matter, even to the point where it becomes tiresome or irritating to others. The repetition may suggest an excessive preoccupation or obsession with the subject, leading to monotony or annoyance among listeners. Often, individuals who are harping on a matter may not be open to considering alternate perspectives or moving on from the topic.
The phrase can also convey the idea of dwelling on a past grievance or constantly reminding others of a particular mistake or issue. It implies a tendency to excessively focus on the negative aspects of a situation, which can hinder one's ability to move forward or find resolutions. Harping on is sometimes associated with a lack of flexibility or adaptability and can strain interpersonal relationships or conversations.
In summary, "harping on" refers to the act of persistently and repetitively talking or complaining about a specific subject or issue, often with a negative connotation and without openness to other viewpoints or resolutions.
Common Misspellings for HARPING ON
- garping on
- barping on
- narping on
- jarping on
- uarping on
- yarping on
- hzrping on
- hsrping on
- hwrping on
- hqrping on
- haeping on
- hadping on
- hafping on
- hatping on
- ha5ping on
- ha4ping on
- haroing on
- harling on
- har-ing on
- har0ing on
Etymology of HARPING ON
The phrase "harping on" is derived from the verb "harp" which originated in Old English as "heorpan". It referred to the action of playing the harp, a musical instrument with strings. Over time, the term "harp" started to be used metaphorically to describe someone who repeats or emphasizes a point excessively, just like the repetition of notes on a harp. This gave rise to the phrase "harping on", which means to continually talk about or emphasize a particular subject, often in a repetitive or tiresome manner.
Idioms with the word HARPING ON
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keep harping on sth
To keep harping on something means to keep talking about or complaining about the same thing repeatedly and in a tedious or annoying way.
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keep harping on something
To "keep harping on something" means to repeatedly talk about or focus on a particular issue or topic, often in a negative or annoying way.
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keep harping on
To keep talking about or continually emphasize a particular topic or issue, often in a repetitive or annoying manner.
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