To apply wax to a surface in an outward motion, or (informal/literary) to speak at length on a subject.
To put wax on something, or to talk for a long time about something.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To apply wax to a surface, typically as part of a polishing or protective routine.
"Wax on, wax off — the old man insisted it was the best way to polish the car."
Wax on, wax off.
— Mr. Miyagi, The Karate Kid (1984 film)
To speak at length on a subject, often enthusiastically or long-windedly.
"He could wax on for hours about the history of jazz."
To apply wax to a surface — one sense is fully literal; the speaking sense is an archaic figurative extension.
To put wax on something, or to talk for a long time about something.
The waxing/polishing sense was popularised in Western culture through the 1984 film The Karate Kid. The speaking sense derives from an archaic use of 'wax' meaning 'to grow or become', now mostly found in 'wax lyrical', 'wax poetic', etc. The film-related sense is very widely recognised.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "wax on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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