drone on
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
Keep talking for a very long time in a flat, dull voice that makes people bored.
Literal meaning: To make a continuous, low, humming sound like a drone (insect or aircraft).
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To talk at length in a dull, monotonous voice that bores the listener.
"The professor droned on for two hours without ever looking up from his notes."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To continue for a long time in a tedious or monotonous way (of a sound, event, or situation).
"The ceremony droned on through the afternoon while the guests tried to stay awake."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Always has a negative connotation. The speaker who drones on is unaware of — or unconcerned with — the listener's boredom. Often used with 'about': 'drone on about something'.
Commonly used with
endlessly forever about politics about work lecture speech
Forms
Base
drone on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drones on
he/she/it
Past simple
droned on
yesterday
Past participle
droned on
have + pp
-ing form
droning on
continuous
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Synonyms
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