edgeways
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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 negative constructions 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 negative constructions 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 able to 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 wasn't able to get a word in edgeways at the debate. I'm never able to get a word in edgeways when Mary comes to the book club—she just never stops talking.
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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
not get a word in edgeways
BRITISH ornot get a word in edgewise
AMERICANIf 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.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
get a word in edgeways
contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks almost incessantly.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
(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.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017