small talk

¹

noun

1. light conversation; chitchat.

   Synonyms: gossip, chatter, banter

small-talk

²

[ smawl-tawk ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in or have a propensity for small talk.

small talk

noun

1. light conversation for social occasions

Word History and Origins

Origin of small talk¹

First recorded in 1745–55

Origin of small talk²

First recorded in 1780–90

Idioms and Phrases

Casual or trivial conversation, chitchat, as in We stood around making small talk until the guest of honor arrived . The small in this expression alludes to unimportant subjects of conversation, as opposed to serious or weighty ones. [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

This is what passes for small talk in English drawing rooms.

From The Daily Beast

At a youth boxing gym up the street, Malloy tries to make small talk with the kids.

From The Daily Beast

It was small talk, but something about the way Robin looked at me made it feel like he truly cared.

From The Daily Beast

We had only been making small talk for a few minutes when he aired his views on the relative attractiveness of Semitic females.

From The Daily Beast

All likely had some uncomfortable small talk to make at the water cooler when they got back.

From The Daily Beast

But her flow of small talk, the conversational stop-gap of the woman accustomed to social amenities, went on placidly.

From Project Gutenberg

"Your idea of small talk is rather peculiar," was Iver's dry comment.

From Project Gutenberg

For nearly sixty years his outr acts of devotion afforded small-talk for the Court of France.

From Project Gutenberg

He, as well as Madam de Broglie, was a master of all the modish and fashionable small talk jargon of Paris.

From Project Gutenberg

She tried to give it a name while Harry's small-talk trickled vaguely through her brain.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blather
• chatter
• chitchat
• pleasantry