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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