Talk Talking Talked I People Things Tɔːk Speak

• stop talking and listen!
• we talked on the phone for over an hour.
• who were you talking to just now?
• ann and joe aren't talking to each other right now (= they refuse to speak to each other because they have argued).

talk

Verb Forms

1. to say things; to speak in order to give information or to express feelings, ideas, etc.
• Stop talking and listen!
• We talked on the phone for over an hour.
• Who were you talking to just now?
• Ann and Joe aren't talking to each other right now (= they refuse to speak to each other because they have argued).
• Watch the scene where Don talks to himself in the mirror while shaving.
• We looked around the school and talked with the principal.
• They talk a lot about the inspiration for their music.
• When they get together, all they talk about is football.
• What are you talking about? (= used when you are surprised, annoyed and/or worried by something that somebody has just said)
• I don't know what you're talking about (= used to say that you did not do something that somebody has accused you of).
• to talk openly/freely/publicly about something
• She started talking loudly to her friends about the film they'd just seen.
• Mary is talking of looking for another job.
• We often talked of the war.
• We talked ourselves hoarse, catching up on all the news.

Extra Examples

• He was so easy to talk to.
• I think you'd better talk directly to my manager.
• I'll talk to John this afternoon.
• I can't talk about it just now.
• Bruce Springsteen has agreed to talk exclusively to our reporter about his life.
• I loved to hear him talk about the old days.
• She talked quite freely about her work.
• He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.
• He talked excitedly of his plans.
2. to discuss something, usually something serious or important
• This situation can't go on. We need to talk.
• The two sides in the dispute are finally willing to talk.
• Talk with your doctor before radically changing your diet.
• Is there anything you'd like to talk about?
• We want to talk to people about this issue.
• to talk politics
3. to say words in a language
• The baby is just starting to talk.
• Alex can't talk yet—he's only just one year old.
• We couldn't understand them because they were talking in Chinese.
• Are they talking Swedish or Danish?
4. to say things that are/are not sensible
• She talks a lot of sense.
• You're talking rubbish!
• See if you can talk some sense into him (= persuade him to be sensible).
5. used to emphasize an amount of money, how serious something is, etc.
• We're talking £500 for three hours' work.
• Do you know what this will cost? We’re talking megabucks here.
6. to talk about a person’s private life
• Don't phone me at work—people will talk.
7. to give information to somebody, especially unwillingly
• The police questioned him but he refused to talk.
8. to try and persuade somebody to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods
• Try and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision.
• Where would I be without you to knock some sense into my head?
9. to have knowledge about something from your own experience
• I’ve lived in China, so I know what I’m talking about.
10. used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too
• ‘George is so careless with money.’ ‘Look who's talking!’
11. people who have a lot of money have more power and influence than others
12. used when you like what somebody has suggested very much
13. people say speak/talk of the devil when somebody they have been talking about appears unexpectedly
• Well, speak of the devil—here's Alice now!
14. to say something that you should not because it is the wrong situation or because it offends somebody
15. to be able to communicate easily with another person because you share similar opinions and experience
16. used to emphasize something
• Talk about mean! She didn't even buy me a card.
17. to talk to somebody about sex in order to make them sexually excited
18. to talk in a way that sounds convincing, but may not be sincere
• The senior managers talk a good game about customer relations, but really they don't care about the customer.
19. to talk too much, especially about things that are boring or not important
20. used when you are going to say more about a subject that has already been mentioned
• Talking of Sue, I met her new boyfriend last week.
21. people say talk/speak of the devil when somebody they have been talking about appears unexpectedly
• Well, talk of the devil—here's Alice now!
22. to talk about your work with the people you work with, especially when you are also with other people who are not connected with or interested in it
• Whenever we meet up with Clive and Sue they always end up talking shop.
23. to be able to talk in a confident way that makes people think you are good at what you do
• You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? (= can you act in a way that matches your words?)
24. to say silly things while you are talking about a subject you do not understand
25. to tell people very strongly what you want
26. to talk about something seriously
27. to make excuses and give reasons for not doing something; to manage to get yourself out of a difficult situation
• I managed to talk my way out of having to give a speech.
28. used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too
29. used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too

Word Origin

• Middle English: frequentative verb from the Germanic base of tale or tell.