talk (oneself) out of (something)

talk (oneself) out of (something)

1. To fail to earn, receive, or achieve something because one says something foolish, troublesome, or discrediting. He had a really impressive résumé, but he talked himself out of the job during the interview. She talked herself out of the promotion when she started discussing her desire to try working in a different industry.

2. To convince oneself not to do, try, accept, receive, etc., something. I had a really good job opportunity in London, but I was so nervous about moving to a different country that I talked myself out of taking it. It's like she's determined to talk herself out of happiness.

See also: of, out, talk

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

talk someone out of something

to convince someone to give up or change something. They were trying to talk me out of my decision. Timmy tried to talk Mary out of her ice cream cone.

See also: of, out, talk

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

talk out of

see under talk into; also see out of turn, def. 2.

See also: of, out, talk

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.