The phrase "talked one leg off" means to talk continuously and persuasively until someone is convinced or worn out. Its spelling can be explained through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. "Talked" is spelled as /tɔkt/, with the symbol /ɔ/ representing the "aw" sound in "caught." "One" is spelled as /wʌn/, with the symbol /ʌ/ representing the "uh" sound in "up." "Leg" is spelled as /lɛɡ/, with the symbol /ɛ/ representing the "eh" sound in "met." "Off" is spelled as /ɒf/, with the symbol /ɒ/ representing the "ah" sound in "hot."
The phrase "talked one leg off" is an idiomatic expression used to denote the ability of an individual to engage in continuous and persuasive conversation to such an extent that it wears out or exhausts their listener, figuratively speaking. It implies a remarkable level of verbosity and persistence in conversational skills.
The phrase is derived from the literal notion of someone talking so incessantly and compellingly that it is as if they have convinced or persuaded their listener to the point of exhaustion, to the extent that the listener feels as though they have figuratively lost a leg as a result of the conversation. The imagery suggests that the individual's words carry such an influence and impact that they literally talk off a limb of the listener, whose metaphorical strength or ability to resist further discourse has diminished.
To "talked one leg off" implies an individual who is not easily deterred or silenced, possessing a gift of gab that allows them to maintain an engaging and persuasive dialogue for an extended period. It suggests that their conversational abilities can be overwhelming, leaving their listeners feeling drained and unable to sustain further discussion. This phrase typically emphasizes the speaker's talent for verbal persuasion and their ability to dominate a conversation by captivating the listener, resulting in an exhausting experience for the unsuspecting interlocutor.