gabfests

Extended bull sessions

Gabfests are prolonged sessions of talking, especially casual or gossipy conversation.

The word combines gab (chatter) with fest (gathering or celebration), suggesting talk as the main event: The lunch meeting turned into a three-hour gabfest.

The tone is usually light or dismissive—gabfests rarely accomplish much beyond the talking itself.

casual

chitchat

Informal light conversation

gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
chatterLight, rapid speech
schmoozeChat to gain favor

banter · small talk · catch-up · coffee klatch · hen party · shooting the breeze · jawing · yakking · nattering · chinwag

organized

panel discussion

Organized multi-speaker talk

talk showBroadcast featuring host-guest conversations
roundtableLeaderless group discussion
symposiumFormal expert discussion meeting

forum · town hall · conference · summit · seminar · workshop · debate · colloquium · convention · meet-and-greet

political

filibuster

Delaying tactic through speech

debateFormal argument on issues
campaign rallyGathering to support candidate
stump speechCandidate's standard campaign oration

caucus · press conference · spin room · talking heads · punditry · townhall · hustings · speechifying · grandstanding · rhetoric

gabfests

chitchat

panel discussion

filibuster

gabfests

Opposites

Categories

Family