We use this pattern in the sense that someone isn't using their own words, or doesn't really mean what they say, they're just repeating what they've heard or saying things under the influence of something else. For example, if your husband comes home drunk and says "I'm going to sleep now, and when I wake up, I'm going to kick your ass!" You can answer "That's the alcohol talking... now go to sleep." Or let's say your husband attends a lot of business seminars, One Saturday you remind him that the lawn needs mowing. He says: "We need to divide our duties and upper management needs to delegate the more menial tasks to lower management..." and you interrupt: "If you're saying you expect ME to mow the lawn, that's the seminars talking. I'M your wife!"