Chatterbox is an idiomatic term or colloquialism in English that first appeared in the 1700s, similar to now archaic terms such as rattle-basket, prate-apace and twattle-basket
Also:
chatter box
chatter-box
Meaning of Idiom “Chatterbox”
A chatterbox is someone who talks excessively and continuously, especially about trivial, unimportant, or irrelevant things; someone who engages in idle talk without saying much of consequence or import.
This idiom is usually applied to enthusiastic and talkative children.
Sentence Examples
“My little niece is such a chatterbox but she’s really funny!”
“This guy sitting next to me at the movie was a total chatterbox. And he wasn’t even talking about the movie!”
“I can’t be in a room for more than ten minutes with Mark. He never stops talking.” “Yeah, he’s a real chatterbox.”
“He’s just a little nervous. He’s really quite a chatterbox. Talk, you boneheaded dolt.” — Shrek (2001)
“Sir, is this what you’ve been working on? This is why no one sees you?” “Young man, nobody likes a chatterbox.” — Robots (2005)
“Boy, that guy was a real chatterbox, wasn’t he? I didn’t think he was ever gonna stop with the story.” — Bottle Rocket (1996)
“Just turned 2. Already talking a mile a minute. Just talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk. A regular little chatterbox.” — The Man (2005)
“I spend whole days up here. Doing schoolwork, whatever. I’m homeschooled. That’s why I’m such a chatterbox.” —Dolphin Tale (2011)
Origin of Chatterbox
The word chatter has been used to mean idle or foolish talk, inane banter, since the mid-1800s, an onomatopoeic word referring to the sounds of talking, similar to such words as chit, or chitter, which also recall the sounds of birds. It was combined with box, meaning a container of something, around 1774. Similar terms are prattle-basket (c. 1600), prate-apace (1630s), twattle-basket (1680s). 1Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of chatterbox.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/chatterbox. Accessed 22 May, 2025.
