🗓️ Idiom: Walk the Talk / Walk the Walk (v)
💬 Meaning
- To do what you say you will do.
- To back up your words with actions, especially in a leadership or project setting.
🧠 Example Sentences
- The manager promised better communication so now it’s time to walk the talk.
- If we expect the team to meet deadlines, we have to walk the walk ourselves.
- She talks about innovation, but she also walks the talk by trying new approaches.
🏛️ Origin
Originally from American English, this idiom contrasts talking (making claims) with walking (taking action). “Walk the walk” and “walk the talk” both emphasize that actions should match words — a key idea in leadership and project execution.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The director said transparency was important, but now she needs to __________ and share the data.
Answer
walk the talk
2. Choose the correct meaning of “walk the talk”:
A) Avoid responsibilities
B) Say one thing and do another
C) Take action that matches your words
D) Delay making a decision
Answer
C) Take action that matches your words
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“He said he valued teamwork, and he showed it by helping the group.” → Change the sentence using: walk the talk
Answer
He said he valued teamwork, and he walked the talk by helping the group.