talk
verb [ I ]
uk/tɔːk/ usto say things or speak to someone:
talk about/of sth In Tokyo markets, the only thing people want to talk about is the budget problem.
talk to/with sb I need to talk to the Sales Manager directly.
She was talking on the phone to her co-worker.
talk business/politics, etc.
to discuss a particular subject:
At the dinner table, everyone was talking interest rate hikes and unemployment numbers.
be talking sth informal
used to emphasize that you are referring to something serious or important, a large amount of money, etc.:
We're talking big money here - £200 an hour.
How long - are we talking five years or are we talking 30 years?
talk shop
to talk about work with people you work with when you are not at work:
I hate those office parties where everyone talks shop.
talk the talk informal
to be able to speak with the confidence and knowledge of someone who knows a lot about a particular subject:
He can certainly talk the talk, but will he get the deal done?
talk turkey US informal
to discuss something in a direct way without avoiding difficult issues:
Few politicians are willing to talk turkey about immigration.
Phrasal verbs
talk sb around
talk sth down
talk down to sb
talk sb into sth
talk sb out of sth
talk sth over
talk sb through sth
talk sth up
talk
noun
uk/tɔːk/ us [ C ]
an occasion when someone speaks to a group of people about a particular subject:
A speaker is coming in to give a talk to the sales team.
a talk about/on sth We listened to a talk about resources in the local economy.
talks [ plural ]
GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT, HR
serious and formal discussions on an important subject usually intended to produce decisions or agreements:
contract/merger/takeover talks
The latest round of talks ended today.
begin/have/hold talks We held talks with the union about pay increases.
in talks The two companies are in talks about a merger.
talks about sth The studio broke off talks about a movie distribution deal.
talks between sb Talks between the two nations have resulted in a new trade deal.
[ U ]
things people are saying about what might happen or be true:
talk of sth She dismissed the talk of her resignation as nonsense.
There has been talk of closing some regional offices.
See also
pay talks