talk shop
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1. verb To discuss one's trade or job in depth, especially with someone who is in the same profession. Jane and I got to talking shop about her new quilting business. My husband is a teacher, and whenever he gets together with his coworkers, they do nothing but talk shop the whole time.
2. noun A group or gathering that spends more time, effort, and resources on discussing policy or possible actions than actually doing anything meaningful. People have criticized the summit as a mere talk shop, since it is not legally binding for the countries that participate in it.
talking shop
A group or organization that spends far more time, effort, and resources on discussing policy or possible actions than actually doing anything meaningful. Primarily heard in UK. People have long criticised these inquiries as being nothing but talking shops, since their recommendations have no legal authority. To be honest, I think a talking shop is what we need at the moment—a chance for these groups to discuss their positions in person, rather than behind the poisonous anonymity of social media.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
talk shop
to talk about business or work matters at a social event (where such talk is out of place). All right, everyone, we're not here to talk shop. Let's have a good time. Mary and Jane stood by the punch bowl, talking shop.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
talk shop
Converse about one's business or profession, as in Whenever John and his dad get together, they talk shop. [Mid-1800s]
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.
talk shop
If people who do the same kind of work talk shop, they talk to each other about their work. Although I get on well with my colleagues, if we hang around together all the time we just end up talking shop. Excuse me talking shop, Sara. Note: You can use the noun shop talk to describe this type of conversation. Conversation over dinner began with catching up on family matters, then turned to shop talk. Note: These expressions are often used to suggest that this is boring for other people who are present and who do not do the same work.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
talk shop
discuss matters concerning your work, especially in circumstances where this is inappropriate. 1990 G. Gordon Liddy The Monkey Handlers Lawyers talk shop, bounce ideas off one another all the time.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
talk ˈshop
talk about your work or business in a social situation with somebody who works with you: Are you two talking shop again? Why don’t you forget business for a while and come and meet my friends? ▶ ˈshop talk noun: We’ve discussed more intimate things than just shop talk.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
talk shop
To talk about one's work.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.