Rabbiting

Rabbiting, in its primary sense, refers to the act of repeatedly and often aimlessly talking or writing about a particular subject, often digressing and straying from the main point. It can imply a lack of focus, discipline, or organization in one's communication. The term highlights a tendency to veer off-topic, creating a conversational style marked by tangents, detours, and a scattered presentation of ideas. It is frequently associated with someone who is verbose or prone to rambling. Beyond this general meaning, 'rabbiting' can be extended to refer to the act of engaging in pointless activities, wandering aimlessly, or pursuing unproductive endeavors. This connotation arises from the rabbit's perceived tendency to flit from place to place without a specific purpose, or the perception of a disorganized and wandering pattern of thought. Its usage highlights a lack of direction or purpose. The term can also be used to describe someone talking rapidly, possibly due to excitement or nervousness.

Rabbiting meaning with examples

• During the meeting, the presenter kept rabbiting about irrelevant anecdotes, completely losing the audience and ultimately failing to convey any important information about the project's objectives and how to address the core issues. Her lack of focus was quite distracting.
• The politician started rabbiting about his childhood memories during the debate, instead of answering the questions about his policy. He needed to provide clear, concise answers to get the public's attention, but he seemed intent on ignoring them.
• The author's initial draft contained lengthy passages of rabbiting philosophical meanderings that detracted from the plot and character development, therefore needed drastic editing to improve the pacing of the story and engage the reader.
• After her promotion, the new manager would frequently *rabbit* with her team about the minutiae of her previous role, instead of clearly laying out her expectations for their present tasks, causing confusion and frustration among the team members.