walk the walk

verb

To act consistently in line with one's claims; to follow through.

“When it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, he talks the talk, but it remains to be seen if he can walk the walk.”

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Meanings

verbwalk the walk (third-person singular simple present walks the walk, present participle walking the walk, simple past and past participle walked the walk)

present singular third person walks the walk · participle present walking the walk · participle past walked the walk · past walked the walk

  1. idiomaticinformalintransitiveTo act consistently in line with one's claims; to follow through.

    When it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, he talks the talk, but it remains to be seen if he can walk the walk.

    1 more example

    "The SNP like to talk the talk about net zero targets, but they can't walk the walk. We need a fares freeze for everyone if we want to get serious about greening the economy and a public railway run in the public interest."

    2023 June 28, Conrad Landin, “Network News: Scottish 4.8% rail fares rise labelled 'bad news'”, in RAIL, number 986, page 18

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
walk it like one talks it

Translations

French faut que les bottines suivent les babines
  • faut que les bottines suivent les babinesfollow up on what one has promised
Polish przechodzić od słów do czynów, przejść od słów do czynów
  • przechodzić od słów do czynówfollow up on what one has promised
  • przejść od słów do czynówfollow up on what one has promised
Spanish actuar, cumplir
  • actuarfollow up on what one has promised
  • cumplirfollow up on what one has promised
  • efectuarfollow up on what one has promised
Cite this entry
APA

walk the walk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20walk

MLA

“walk the walk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20walk. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “walk the walk,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/walk%20the%20walk.

Source: walk the walk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.