- (formal, often disapproving)
speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere 華而不實的言語；花言巧語 the rhetoric of political slogans 政治口號的虛華辭藻 Her speech was just empty rhetoric. 她的演講只是些浮誇之詞。 His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition. 他的講話被反對派斥爲僅僅是誇誇其談。
Extra ExamplesBehind all the rhetoric, his relations with the army are tense. 在冠冕堂皇的言辭背後，他和軍隊的關系實則處於緊張狀態。 He was prepared to use militant rhetoric in attacking his opponents. 他不惜使用犀利的言辭攻擊對手。 Little has changed, despite the rhetoric about reform. 盡管關於改革的言辭頗爲動聽，但情況基本沒什麽改變。 official rhetoric on the virtues of large families 有關大家庭優點的官方言辭
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- empty
- mere
- fiery
- …
- adopt
- employ
- engage in
- …
- behind the rhetoric
- beneath the rhetoric
- despite the rhetoric
- …
- (formal)
the art of using language in speech or writing in a special way that influences or entertains people 修辭技巧；修辭
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French rethorique, via Latin from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of rhetoric’, from rhētōr ‘rhetor’.