on speaking terms
Idioms-
Friendly enough to exchange superficial remarks, as in We're on speaking terms with the new neighbors .
-
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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By the 25th anniversary of her passing, there was a noticeable royal silence, as Harry had moved to California with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and was no longer on speaking terms with William.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Cloobeck, according to a detective’s testimony Monday, is not on speaking terms with Lavie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Asked about the row, Zelensky acknowledged the two sides were barely on speaking terms, saying he had made the change for the sake of "unity".
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
But that doesn’t mean he and Busch are back on speaking terms.
From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024
By the time Uncle Kufa returned several hours later, the madness had lifted and everyone was on speaking terms again.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
