edgeways

get a word in edgeways

To speak or express one's opinion despite other people dominating the conversation (hence the image of squeezing words in "edgeways"—sideways). Usually used in the negative to convey the opposite. When Mary paused in her monologue, I was finally able to get a word in edgeways about my own weekend! The third-tier candidate couldn't get a word in edgeways at the debate.

get a word in edgewise

To speak or express one's opinion despite other people dominating the conversation (hence the image of squeezing words in "edgewise"—sideways). Usually used in the negative to convey the opposite. When Mary paused in her monologue, I was finally able to get a word in edgewise about my own weekend! The third-tier candidate couldn't get a word in edgewise at the debate.

not get a word in edgeways

To be unable to speak or make one's opinion known due to one or more people dominating the conversation. The third-tier candidate couldn't get a word in edgeways at the debate. I can never get a word in edgeways when Mary comes to the book club—she just never stops talking.

get a word in edgewise and get a word in edgeways

Fig. to manage to say something when other people are talking and ignoring you. (Often in the negative. Alludes to trying to "squeeze" a word into a running conversation.) It was such an exciting conversation that I could hardly get a word in edgewise. Mary talks so fast that nobody can get a word in edgeways.

See also: and, edgeways, edgewise, get, word

get a word in edgewise

Also, get a word in edgeways. Insert oneself into a conversation or express one's opinion despite competition from other speakers. For example, So many people had questions for the lecturer that it was hard to get a word in edgewise, or Nancy loves to talk, and I couldn't get a word in edgeways. This idiom, often put in the negative, transfers an object with its edge foremost to inserting conversation. [Late 1700s]

not get a word in edgeways

BRITISH or

not get a word in edgewise

AMERICAN

If you cannot get a word in edgeways in a conversation, you find it difficult to say anything because someone else is talking so much. For heaven's sake, Sue, will you let me get a word in edgeways! Jamie dominated the conversation and Zhou could hardly get a word in edgewise.

get a word in edgeways

contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks almost incessantly.

(not) get a word in ˈedgeways

(British English) (American English (not) get a word in ˈedgewise) (informal) (usually used with can or could) (not) be able to say something, because somebody else is talking too much: I tried to tell him what I thought, but I couldn’t get a word in edgeways.