speak for

To express another person's or group's thoughts or wishes for them.

• I speak for the whole team.
• She spoke for the workers at the meeting.
• Who gave you permission to speak for me?

How to use it: speak for someone (I can't speak for my colleagues, but I support the plan.)

Similar words: represent, speak on behalf of

Common phrases: speak for someone, speak for everyone, speak for yourself

To talk for a particular length of time.

• He spoke for an hour.
• Can you speak for five minutes about your job?
• They had been speaking for ages when we arrived.

How to use it: speak for a period of time (She spoke for ten minutes before answering questions.)

Similar words: talk for

Common phrases: speak for hours, speak for minutes

To show its own value or quality clearly, without needing an explanation.

• The results speak for themselves.
• His excellent safety record speaks for itself.
• We need no sales pitch; our products speak for themselves.

How to use it: speak for itself/themselves (The quality of her work speaks for itself.)

Similar words: demonstrate own worth

Common phrases: speak for itself, speak for themselves

To say that you want something, so it is kept for you.

• Please speak for a seat early.
• He spoke for the largest room.
• Those tickets have already been spoken for.

How to use it: speak for something (She spoke for the last available room.); be spoken for (All the seats are already spoken for.)

Similar words: reserve, claim, book

Common phrases: speak for something, speak for seats