bull sessions
Rambling group talks
Bull sessions are informal group conversations, typically among men, characterized by rambling discussion of opinions, experiences, and ideas without any formal agenda.
The talk ranges freely across topics—politics, philosophy, sports, life—with participants holding forth, arguing, and speculating.
The term evokes late-night dorm rooms or barracks: We stayed up having bull sessions about the meaning of life.
The "bull" suggests both idle talk and a hint of bullshit—conversation that's enjoyable but not necessarily productive.
- confabsInformal private discussions
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- powwowCeremonial tribal gathering
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
- discussionExchange of ideas
gabfest · debate · talk · heart-to-heart · chat · campfires · fireside chat · personal anecdotes · shooting the breeze · chewing the fat · late-night · informal · small talk · camaraderie · philosophy · brainstorming · free exchange of ideas · politics
- discussionsdiscussion, discussions, forum, talks, roundtable
bull sessionsboard meetings
Formal executive group discussions
summit meetings · diplomatic negotiations · congressional hearings · depositions · courtroom proceedings
bull sessionsbrainstorming sessions
Group idea-generating discussions
negotiations · strategy sessions · planning sessions · performance reviews · deliberations
bull, session, bulls, sessions, bullish, bullishness, sessional