Small Talk

Meaning of Idiom ‘Small Talk’

Small talk means polite and casual conversation about very unimportant, trivial, or uninteresting topics; chitchat. ¹,²

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Usage

This expression is often used as part of the phrase “make small talk.”

Examples Of Use

“I can’t go to another office party! It’s nothing but hours of small talk with people I see every day.”

“I’m going to be late to the meeting,” said Chris. “What am I supposed to do until you get there?” asked Nick. ” “Just make small talk,” said Chris.

“What have you guys been talking about?” asked Ali. “Just small talk,” said Nellie.

Origin

Used since the mid-1700s. ³

Small is used in this idiom to mean insignificant or unimportant.

More Idioms Starting with S

• Scaredy-Cat
• Steal Someone’s Thunder
• Stand On Someone’s Shoulders
• Sleep Tight
• Screw UP

More Small Idioms

• Big Fish in a Small Pond, a
• Thankful for Small Mercies, be
• It’s A Small World

More Talk Idioms

• Talking to a Brick Wall
• Chatterbox
• Talk Into
• Talk About
• Talk The Hind Legs Off A Donkey

 

References

1. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
2. Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
3. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.