engage in small talk

engage in small talk

To chat with someone, usually a stranger or acquaintance, about benign topics (such as the weather or one's employment). Because Tom and Joe had never met before, they engaged in small talk by the appetizers. If you think that girl's pretty, go over and engage in small talk with her. I want to have deep conversations with people, not engage in small talk! That's so boring and superficial to me.

See also: engage, small, talk

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

engage in small talk

to talk only about minor matters rather than important matters or personal matters. All the people at the party were engaging in small talk. They chatted about the weather and otherwise engaged in small talk.

See also: engage, small, talk

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.