on speaking terms

Idioms  

1. Friendly enough to exchange superficial remarks, as in We're on speaking terms with the new neighbors .

2. Ready and willing to communicate, not alienated or estranged. For example, We are on speaking terms again after the quarrel . Both senses of this idiom commonly occur in the negative, as in Brett and his brother haven't been on speaking terms for years . The idiom was first recorded in 1786.

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Example Sentences

The report, citing unidentified sources, said the two had not been on speaking terms for "several weeks", with the Clippers believing Paul had become "disruptive."

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

"We're still on speaking terms - not the best of friends. It's still quite tough watching it back for the both of us."

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024

Relations will most likely return to what they were between Argentina's current Peronist President Alberto Fernandez and Brazil's Bolsonaro, who were not on speaking terms, he said.

From Reuters • Nov. 20, 2023

During a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Pinkett Smith said her friendship with Shakur had been strained and the pair weren’t on speaking terms at the time of his death.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2023

She longed to know the green squirrel-like ratatoskas and gradually came to be on speaking terms with them, listening to their gossip.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell