What it means
Means to keep talking for ages, usually about absolutely nothing, until everyone else has mentally checked out. It’s linked to Cockney rhyming slang, rabbit and pork meaning talk. If someone’s rabbiting on, they’ve got no off switch, just a nonstop stream of waffle that traps you in conversation you never asked for.
Usage examples
"Kev rabbited on about his new shed for an hour, dead serious. I smiled, said nice one mate, then legged it for a fake loo break."
"Gran can rabbit on about her neighbours for a solid hour without once pausing to breathe or let you escape."
"Stop rabbiting on about the football and pass the remote, the film started ten minutes ago."
Where it comes from
Straight out of Cockney rhyming slang, where rabbit and pork rhymes with talk. Londoners clipped it down to rabbit, and to rabbit on became to talk and talk and talk. The cosy little bunny hides a warning: once they start, there is no off switch in sight.
Other ways to say it
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