talk shop

Converse about careers

Talk shop means to discuss work or professional matters, especially in social settings where such conversation might bore others.

The phrase often carries a mildly apologetic tone: Sorry, we shouldn't talk shop at dinner.

Two colleagues at a party might drift into talking shop about office politics or technical problems, leaving non-colleagues feeling excluded.

Related

break room · office gossip · insider language · chatting · coworkers · business · office · nine to five · technical terms · professional · acronyms · project planning · common ground · discuss · discourse · networking · conversation · shared experiences

Opposites
conversation topic

talk shopshoot the breeze

Converse idly, without aim

chitchat · gossip · chew the fat · catch up · small talk

social appropriateness

talk shopunwind

Release accumulated tension

relax · decompress · switch off · be present

Family

talk, shop, shopping, talks, talking, shopper, workshop, talkative, shops

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G