bull session
Freewheeling group chat
A bull session is an informal, rambling group conversation, typically among men, covering any topic that comes up—politics, sports, philosophy, personal problems.
The talk is casual and unstructured, often late at night: We stayed up having a bull session until three in the morning.
The term suggests earnest discussion rather than idle gossip.
- confabInformal discussion or meeting
- gabfestLong informal discussion
- chinwagInformal lengthy conversation
- informalRelaxed, not official
- unstructuredLacking imposed order
huddle · jawing · chat · idle chatter · theorizing · speculation · hot air · fireside chat · shooting the breeze · talk · palaver · banter · schmooze · coffee klatch · dorm room · gossip · table talk · discussion
- chatterchat, chatter, chatting, chitchat, chit-chat
- discussionsdiscussion, discussions, forum, talks, roundtable
- talkchat, chatter, chitchat, gab, jabber
- casual gatheringsget-together, hangout, meetup, catch-up, happy hour
- talkstalk, conversation, chat, discussion, dialogue
- Casualcasual Friday, casual wear, casual conversation, dress down, hangout
bull sessionboard meeting
Formal executive gathering
summit · congressional hearing · diplomatic negotiation · press conference · deposition
bull sessionplanning session
Meeting to organize ahead
working group · task force meeting · negotiation · working session · brainstorming session
bull sessionpeer review
Expert evaluation before publication
Socratic dialogue · logical argument · expert panel · symposium