Ever asked someone a simple question and received a three-part novel in return? Or found yourself nodding politely while someone explained something you literally teach for a living? Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes wildly annoying) world of explaining – where clarity meets comedy, and intention often misses the mark by a mile.
Whether it’s heartfelt, helpful, or horrendously condescending, here’s your illustrated guide to 15 gloriously human types of explaining and a few cheeky thoughts on what each one really means.
1. Explaining (Plain old garden variety)
Definition: Simply telling someone how or why something works or happened.
Example:
You ask, “How does a kettle work?”
I reply, “You put water in it, the electric coil heats up, and voilà – tea time.”
Nothing more, nothing less. Basic, polite, textbook explaining. The vanilla of the explain synonym family.
2. Mansplaining
Definition: When a man explains something to a woman in a patronising way, especially when she already knows the subject well.
Example:
You’re a mechanic, and some bloke at a party starts explaining how an engine works, assuming you wouldn’t possibly understand.
(Insert slow eye blink and internal scream.)
3. Neurodivergent Overexplaining
Definition: When someone who is neurodivergent (like autistic or ADHD) explains in detailed, repetitive ways to feel understood or reduce anxiety.
Example:
You ask where the loo is, and they reply with a step-by-step itinerary involving a water cooler, a horse painting, and the position of the light switch. Thorough? Yes. Needed? Not always.
4. Gaslighting (Twisted Explaining)
Definition: A manipulative explanation that makes you question your memory or sanity.
Example:
You know you saw someone eat your sandwich. They say, “What sandwich? You never brought one.”
You’re now staring into space, doubting reality.
5. Splaining (Non-specific Condescension)
Definition: Patronising explanation, usually assuming the other person is clueless.
Example:
Telling a Michelin chef how to boil pasta.
Because obviously, they’ve just discovered the kitchen today.
6. Overexplaining (Social Anxiety Edition)
Definition: When someone nervously piles on details to avoid misunderstanding.
Example:
“Sorry I’m late! The bus broke down, then my sock got caught in a drain, then a goose hissed at me…”
Honestly, a simple “Traffic!” would’ve done.
7. Technical Explaining (Jargon Jungle)
Definition: Stuffed with complex terms the average person doesn’t understand.
Example:
“Your laptop’s experiencing a DNS resolution error due to packet loss on the local subnet.”
Translation: Your Wi-Fi’s acting up.
(Yes, a techy’s favourite kind of explain synonym.)
8. Parental Explaining (Mum Mode Activated)
Definition: Warnings, guilt and life lessons, all served with a dash of nostalgia.
Example:
“Cross the road carefully – remember Aunt Janine’s cousin’s nephew got hit by a bike and now walks sideways.”
9. Whitesplaining
Definition: When a white person explains racism to a person of colour, often in a dismissive or unaware tone.
Example:
“Are you sure that was racist? Maybe you misunderstood it…”
(Imagine explaining swimming to a fish.)
10. Eldersplaining
Definition: Older person assumes young people don’t understand life yet.
Example:
You’re overwhelmed with emails. Uncle pipes up:
“Back in my day, we used pigeon post and had real stress.”
Cue polite smile and mental exit.
11. Wokesplaining
Definition: Progressive person explains social issues in a smug, overbearing way.
Example:
You mention enjoying a TV show. They tell you it’s problematic for 10 minutes. You nod, having read the same articles already.
12. Topsplaining (Corporate Version)
Definition: Higher-ups dumbing things down for staff who clearly already understand.
Example:
CEO explains “teamwork” to employees who do the teamwork. While he’s off approving the design of his third yacht.
13. Rightsplaining
Definition: Explaining activism or human rights to activists – often incorrectly.
Example:
“Women already have rights, so feminism’s a bit outdated, yeah?”
Oh honey. Sit down.
14. Parentsplaining
Definition: When parents explain parenting to non-parents like it’s an elite club.
Example:
You hold a baby. They say, “Careful with the neck! No, not like that!”
As if the child will combust.
15. Able-splaining
Definition: When non-disabled people explain disability to disabled people.
Example:
“You just need a positive mindset!”
Meanwhile, the person in the wheelchair dreams of installing a trapdoor beneath you.
So, Which Explainer Are You?
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been a version of these at some point. The difference is whether we’re aware of it or not. And while explaining is a vital part of communication, there’s a fine line between clarity and cluelessness. The trick is knowing your audience, and maybe sometimes, just zipping it.Whether you’re overexplaining out of nerves or tossing out a fancy explain synonym to sound clever at work, we’ve all climbed that colourful ladder of verbal chaos.
