back chat

informal An impudent answer or response. Primarily heard in UK. A: "Tommy, please clean your room." B: "Go clean it yourself!" A: "Give me back chat like that again and I'll tan your hide!" He was given detention for all his back chat in class. I won't stand for that back chat, young lady. Go to the your room!

chat about (someone or something)

To talk about something, often casually or informally. Oh, you're not interrupting, we're just chatting about our kids—come on in! Do you have a minute to chat about this issue in the code? Hey, we're chatting about the best Christmas gifts we ever got. What's yours, Jake?

chat up

1. To engage someone in lighthearted banter or casual conversation. A noun or pronoun can be used between "chat" and "up." I love chatting up tourists visiting our city. It gives you such diverse and interesting perspectives! I got Nicole for Secret Santa, so I need to chat her up and find out what she's into. It would be so nice if my employees would stop chatting each other up and start doing some actual work!

2. To engage in flirtatious conversation with someone, usually in pursuit of romantic or sexual purposes. A noun or pronoun can be used between "chat" and "up." I was chatting up this cute guy at the bar last night, and I managed to get his phone number! I hate when people chat me up in clubs. I just want to have a nice time out with my friends! A: "Check out that hottie with a body! Come on, go chat her up!" B: "Are you kidding? As if she would even look at a dork like me!"

chatbot

A computer program that is able to interact with users and simulate human conversation. Is there any way for me to talk to an actual human, instead of a chatbot? Sir, unfortunately, the data shows that people get easily frustrated with our chatbot. No matter how slowly I talk and how much I enunciate, it seems like chatbots never understand me.

chat-up line

A sentence, phrase, or question used to start a flirtatious conversation with a potential romantic or sexual partner. Primarily heard in UK. "Have we met before?" is Ed's favorite chat-up line, even though it has a very low success rate with the ladies. If you hit on girls with that creepy chat-up line, I'm not surprised you keep getting rejected. Ugh, I'm in no mood for lame guys and their cringey chat-up lines tonight.

chitchat

1. verb To talk in an idle or casual manner. We're just chitchatting, come on in. A: "What do you think those two are chitchatting about?" B: "Beats me, I didn't even know they were friends." Oh, you're not interrupting, we're just chitchatting about our kids.

2. noun An instance of idle or casual chatter. We're just having a chitchat, come on in. I would give anything to just have a chitchat with my best friend right now, but she lives in a different time zone. Sorry I'm late—my neighbor and I were having a chitchat about the new people on the street.

drop in for a chat

To visit one casually or unexpectedly to have a friendly talk. Drop in for a chat whenever you want—it's always great to see you! I'd love to catch up, so do drop in for a chat while you're in town. Sorry I'm late, my neighbor dropped in for a chat as I was getting ready to leave.

fireside chat

An informal but structured conversation or interview, especially one intended to share or convey information to other people. The CEO of the company has begun a series of weekly fireside chats that have seen her popularity with customers skyrocket. The university is hosting a fireside chat with the controversial author to investigate some of his claims and beliefs. FDR's fireside chats in the wake of the New Deal are seen as a hallmark of his presidency.

flat chat

1. adjective Very busy; preoccupied with many different things at once. Sometimes hyphenated. Primarily heard in Australia. Sorry I couldn't make it to lunch today, I've been flat chat with the kids all day. I've been so flat-chat at work that I barely have time to see my kids anymore. Believe me, this audit has kept everyone in the department flat chat for months. We can't wait till it's over!

2. adverb At the greatest possible speed, efficiency, or power. Sometimes hyphenated. Primarily heard in Australia. We drove that car flat chat out of town. The whole team is working flat-chat to get this project finished and perfect. Good luck beating Chris in the race—that guy runs flat chat.

chat about someone or something

to talk idly or informally about someone or something. We need to chat about Molly. I want to chat about your expenditures a little.

chat up

1. Talk flirtatiously to, as in Leave it to Charlie to chat up the girls. This usage is mostly but not entirely British. [Late 1800s]

2. Engage in light, friendly talk, as in He was soon chatting up all the board members. [Mid-1900s]

chat up

1. To engage someone in light, casual talk, especially in order to gain his or her favor: The salesperson chatted us up for an hour before we finally decided to buy something. I chatted up the director, hoping to get a part in the film.

2. To talk amorously to someone, usually without serious intentions; flirt with someone: Many people go to the bar just to chat up the attractive bartenders. By their false smiles, we could tell they were coming over to chat us up.

chitchat

(ˈtʃɪt tʃæt)

1. n. talk; idle talk. That’s enough chitchat. Please get to work.

2. n. a short, friendly conversation. I’d like to have a little chitchat with you when you have time.

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