make conversation

1. Engage someone in talking purely for its own sake, make small talk, as in She had a real talent for making conversation with strangers. [c. 1920]

Example Sentences

"The only store I can go into is Lego because I know what I'm going in for. I can actually make conversation because they love Lego as much as I love Lego, but that's literally the only store."

From BBC

Trying to make conversation, Beauvais mentioned that she loved Reba’s “smart and sweet” grandchildren.

From Salon

With the goal of meeting other women my age, I began attending book signings, workshops or menopause symposiums solo so that I would be forced to work through my social anxiety and make conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

An Israeli news website, Ynet, reported that the men had told their captors that they were Argentine and had tried to make conversation by talking about soccer.

From New York Times

“As if to make conversation or sort of break the ice, he took me aside and said, ‘I got a new van recently, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it,’” Merlis remembered with a laugh.

From Los Angeles Times