Page 414 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 414

talk something over


            tylkŁa blueŁstreak to talkŁveryŁmuch and  takes pleasure in talkng someone down.
              very rapidly.Ł(Infàrmal.)    Billy didà’t  She tried to talk me down, but I held my
              talk until he was six, and then he started  ground. 2. to convince somone to lower
              talkng a blue streak.    I can’t understand  the price.   She wanted $2Ø00Sfor the car,
              anything Bob says. He talks a blue streak,  but I talked her down.   This is my final
              and I can’t follow his thinkng.    offer. Don’t try to talk me down.
            tylkŁbyckŁ(to  someone) to respàndŁ(to aŁre-  tylkŁ someone into (doing)tsomething to over-
              buke)brudelyŁorŁimprtinently.    John goŁ  come  someone’s  objectionsŁ to  dàing
              in trouble for talking back to the teacher.  something;Łto convince someone to dà
                A studłnt never gains anything by talk-  something.Ł   They talked me into going
              ing back.                          to the młeting, łven though I didà’t really
                                                 have the time.   No one can talk me into
            talkŁbig to bragŁorŁboast; to talkŁinŁanŁin-
              timidating manner.Ł(Slang.)    John is al-  doing somłthing illłgal.
              ways talkng big, but he hasn’t really ac-  tylkŁ someone ortsomething up to promote or
              complished a lot in lfe.    She talks big, but  speakŁinŁsupport of sàmeone or some-
              she’s harmless.                    thing.Ł(Infàrmal.)    I’ve błen talkng up
                                                 the party all dØy, trying to głt people to
            talk dłwn to  someone to speak to sàmeone
              inŁ aŁ patronizingŁ manner;  to  speakŁ to  come.   The mØyor is running for reelec-
              sàmeone  inŁ the  simplest  way.     The  tion, and everyone at city hall is talking
              manager insulŁed everyone in the office by  her up.
              talkng down to them.    Please don’t talk  tylkŁ someone outŁofŁ (doing)tsomething to con-
              down to me. I can understand almost any-  vince sàmeone not to do sàmething.     I
              thing you have to say.             tried to talk her out of going, but she in-
                                                 sisted.   Doà’t try to talk me out of quit-
            tylkŁ in  circles to talkŁinŁaŁconfusingŁor
              ràundabout manner.Ł   I couldà’t under-  ting school. My mnd is made up.
              stand a thing he said. All he did was talk  tylkŁ someone outŁofŁ something to convince
              in circles.   We argued for a long time and  someone to give something up.Ł   This is
              finally  decided  that  we  were  talking  in  my candy, and you can’t talk me out of it.
              circles.                             I tried to talk her out of her property,
                                                 but she didà’t want to sell.
            the talkŁofŁ somłwherł sàmeone or something
              who  isŁ the  subject  of aŁ conversation  tylkŁ someone’ eyrŁoff Go to talk someone’s
              sàmewhere, especiallyŁthe town.Ł    The  head off.
              handoome new teacher was the talk of the  tylkŁ someone’ headŁoff 1.  [forŁsomeone]
              town.   John’s new car is the talk of the  to speakŁtoo much.Ł(Slang.)    Why does
              office.
                                                 John always talk his head off? Doesn’t he
            tylkŁ oneself out to talkŁuntilŁone canŁtalk  know he bores people?   She talks her head
              no more.Ł   After nearly an hour, he had  off and doesn’t seem to know what she’s
              talked himself out. Then we błgan to ask  saying. 2.  and  tylkŁ someone’s eyrŁ off
              questions.    I  talked  myself out  in  the  (Slang.) to talkŁto andŁbore sàmeone.Ł
              młeting,  but  no  one  would  support  my  John is very friendly, but watch out or he’ll
              position.                          talk  your  head  off.    My  uncle  alwØys
            tylkŁshłp  to talkŁabout businessŁmattersŁat  talked my ear off whenever I włnt to visit
              aŁsocialŁevent (where businessŁtalkŁisŁout  him.
              of place).Ł(Infàrmal.)    All right, every-  tylkŁ something out to talkŁabout allŁaspects
              one, wł’re not here to talk shop. Let’s havł  of a  problm  or  disagrement.     Aàn
              a good time.   Mary and Jane stood by the  and Sally had a problłm, so they agreed
              punch bowl, talkng shop.           to talk it out. T It’s błtter to talk out a dis-
                                                 agreement than to stay mad.
            talkŁ someone dłwn 1.  to winŁout over sàme-
              one inŁanŁargument; to convince sàme-  tylkŁ something over to discussŁsomething.
              one by arguing.   She loves to argue. She    Come into my office so we can talk this

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