The word ‘talk’ can mean many different things. As a verb, the meaning is to communicate using words.
For example:
- The children won’t stop talking.
Talk is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle is talked. Click here to find out how to correctly pronounce ‘ed’ in the past tense.
idiomatic phrasal verbs
Did you know phrasal verbs are sometimes used in idioms? See if you can spot any. If you don’t know any phrasal verbs with ‘talk’, click here to learn them.
money talks
meaning – if you have a lot of money, you have a lot of power
example – Money talks! That’s why the CEO’s son is now acting in Hollywood films.
pillow talk
meaning – intimate conversation between lovers
example – I think he’s seeing someone else; we never have pillow talk anymore.
small talk
meaning – casual/trivial conversation
example – Can you make small talk with the clients until we’re ready to start the meeting?
smooth talker
meaning – a charming/flattering person who can persuade others to do things
example – We’ll send Kieran to meet the clients, he’s a smooth talker.
talk shop
meaning – discuss work
example – Our husbands are mechanics, so they’re always talking shop when they’re together.
talk someone into
meaning – persuade someone to do something
example – We need to talk Alex into driving us to that rave in Bristol.
talk someone out of something
meaning – persuade someone not to do something
example – I talked myself out of running the marathon, I’m just too lazy.
talk the hind leg off a donkey
meaning – someone who talks a lot/for a long time
example – I hate Andrew’s meetings, they last hours. That man could talk the hind leg off a donkey.
Psst…
Hey, did you know the verb ‘talk’ has many phrasal verbs. Since you like idioms and phrases, you obviously want to improve your fluency and speak like a native.
Am I right?
I thought you might like to learn the phrasal verbs with ‘talk’ too. They are very common in informal English and great to know/be able to understand if you happen to be speaking to a native. We use them all the time, like literally ALL the time.