verb
talks; talked; talking
to say words in order to express your thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc., to someone [no obj]
[no obj] :to have a conversation or discussion with someone
[+ obj] :to have a conversation about (something)
synonyms seespeak</SYNR
[no obj] :to use your voice to say words :speak
[no obj] :to be willing to talk to someone after having an argument, disagreement, fight, etc., with that person - always used as (be) talking
[no obj] :to talk about the personal lives of other people
[no obj] :to tell secret information to someone
[no obj] :to give information without speaking :to communicate with signs, numbers, etc.
always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] :to talk until (someone or something) is in a specified state
[no obj] :to criticize someone
This sense of talk is often used in phrases like look who's talking, you're one to talk, and you should talk to say that someone should not criticize another person because he or she has the same faults as that other person.
[+ obj] informal - used to describe or suggest the size or amount of something; always used as (be) talking
know what you are talking about
money talks
now you're talking
informal - used to say that someone has said or suggested something that you think is good, worth doing, etc.
talk a blue streak
talk about
The phrase what are you talking about? can be used to show that you are confused, worried, upset, etc., about something that someone has just said.
informal - used to emphasize the size, amount, or extent of something
talk a good game
informal :to say things that make people believe that you can do something or that something is true about you even though it is not true
talk around
also chiefly Brit talk round [phrasal verb]
talk around/round (something) :to avoid talking about (a particular subject) especially because it is difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing
talk (someone) around/round :to cause (someone) to accept and support something (such as an idea) after opposing it
talk at
[phrasal verb] informal talk at (someone) :to speak to (someone) without listening to what he or she says to you in reply
talk back
[phrasal verb]
to answer (someone) in a rude way that does not show proper respect
talk down
[phrasal verb]
talk down to (someone) :to talk to (someone) in an overly simple way which suggests that he or she is not intelligent
talk down (something or someone) or talk (something or someone) down
to describe (something or someone) as unimportant
to cause (the price of something) to be lower by talking to someone
talk (someone) down :to convince (someone who is standing on a high place and threatening to jump) to come down and not to commit suicide
talk into
[phrasal verb]
talk (someone) into (something) :to get (someone) to do something by talking about the good reasons for doing it :to convince or persuade (someone) to do something
talk nineteen to the dozen
Brit informal :to speak rapidly and without stopping
talk of
[phrasal verb]
talk of (someone or something) :to speak or write about (someone or something) :to mention (a subject) in speech or writing
talk of the devil
talk out
[phrasal verb]
talk out (something) or talk (something) out :to talk about (something) in order to find a solution
talk out of
[phrasal verb]
talk (someone) out of (something) :to prevent (someone) from doing (something) by talking about the good reasons for not doing it :to persuade or convince (someone) not to do (something)
talk (yourself) out of (something) or talk your way out of (something) :to avoid (something unpleasant or undesirable) by saying things to make other people forgive or excuse you
talk over
[phrasal verb]
talk (something) over or talk over (something) :to discuss (something) with someone in order to make a decision or reach an agreement
usually + with
talk someone's ear off
US informal :to talk to someone for a very long period of time
talk (some) sense into/to
talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
Brit informal :to talk for a long time
talk the same language
talk the talk
to say that you will do things
talk through
[phrasal verb]
talk (someone) through (something) :to help (someone) understand or do something by explaining its steps in a careful way
talk (something) through :to discuss (something) with someone in order to make a decision or reach an agreement
informal + old-fashioned
If you are talking through your hat, you are saying incorrect, foolish, or illogical things.
talk tough
to say that you will act in a forceful and aggressive way
talk trash
talk turkey
talk up
[phrasal verb]
talk up (someone or something) or talk (someone or something) up :to describe (someone or something) in a favorable way
noun
plural talks
[count] :an occurrence in which one person talks about something with another person :a conversation or discussion - often + about
[count] :the act of talking formally about something before a group of people :a speech or lecture - often + on
[count] :a formal discussion between two or more groups that are trying to reach an agreement about something - usually plural
[noncount] :a particular way of speaking
[noncount] discussion about what might happen
the act of talking about a subject with another person or group :discussion or conversation
[noncount] :the things people say about what they want to do or are going to do
talk the talk
the talk of the town
a person or thing that many people in a town, city, etc., are talking about in an interested or excited way