idle talk
Meaningless verbal exchange
Idle talk is conversation without serious purpose—chitchat, gossip, or empty chatter.
The phrase carries mild disapproval, suggesting time wasted on trivial matters: Enough idle talk—let's get to work.
In religious contexts, idle talk may imply sinful or careless speech.
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- babbleIncoherent speech
- prattleTrivial, prolonged speech
- chitchatInformal light conversation
blather · jabber · shooting the breeze · rumor · hearsay · tongue wagging · gab · yak · natter · drivel · banter · tittle-tattle · whispers · coffeehouse · coffee klatch · water cooler · buzzing · loose lips
- social interactionshello, goodbye, nod, chat, conversation
- chatterchat, chatter, chatting, chitchat, chit-chat
- empty talkhot air, drivel, babble, blather, prattle
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- talkchat, chatter, chitchat, gab, jabber
- talkingchatting, conversing, gabbing, jabbering, yammering
idle talkdeliberation
Careful weighing of choices
negotiation · working session · planning · problem-solving · briefing
idle talkintellectual discourse
Serious exchange of ideas
scholarly debate · wisdom · insight · treatise · dissertation
idle, talk, idly, idleness, idler, idlers, idles, idled, idling