точить язык

• ТОЧИТЬ/ПОТОЧИТЬ ЯЗЫКА highly coll

[VP; subj: human]

=====

1. to engage in idle chatter:

- X точит язык{{}}≈ X wags his tongue;

- X shoots the breeze <the bull>;

- X flaps his jaws <gums>;

- X gabs <jabbers, chatters> away.

     ♦ По субботам у Марьи Семёновны собиралось небольшое дамское общество. За чашкой чая дамы точили языки, обсуждая последние городские новости. On Saturdays a small group of ladies would gather at Marya Semyonovna's home. Over tea they would wag their tongues, discussing the latest news of the city.

2. точить язык на ком [impfv only] to gossip maliciously, make snide or mocking remarks about s.o.:

- X точит язык на Y-e - X picks Y apart;

- X makes sport <fun> of Y;

- X makes Y the butt of X's ridicule <jokes>.