talk turkey
No beating around bushes
Talk turkey is to speak frankly and get down to business, especially in negotiation: Let's talk turkey—what's your best offer?
The phrase implies cutting through pleasantries to discuss serious matters directly.
American in origin, it suggests the kind of straight talk needed when real stakes are involved.
Direct, unadorned honesty
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- candidHonest and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
point-blank · unvarnished · matter-of-fact · unambiguous · explicit · direct · brusque · upfront
Accurate and sincere
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- genuineTruly what it claims
- transparentAllowing light through
- heart-to-heartSincere personal discussion
earnest · authentic · trustworthy · upright · honorable · above-board · frank · open
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
- termsConditions of an agreement
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
compromise · nitty-gritty · counter-offer · closing · concession · agreement · stakes
plain-speaking
Direct, unadorned honesty
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- candidHonest and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
no-nonsense · point-blank · unvarnished · matter-of-fact · unambiguous · explicit · direct · brusque · upfront · unfiltered
truthful
Accurate and sincere
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- genuineTruly what it claims
- transparentAllowing light through
heart-to-heart · earnest · authentic · trustworthy · upright · honorable · above-board · frank · open · straight-arrow
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
- termsConditions of an agreement
settlement · compromise · nitty-gritty · counter-offer · closing · concession · agreement · stakes
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
talk turkeybeat around the bush
Avoid stating directly
hedge · equivocate · mince words · pussyfoot · waffle
talk turkeysmall talk
Polite trivial conversation
chit-chat · shoot the breeze · chitchat · pass the time of day · chew the fat
talk, turkey, talks, talked, talking, talker, talkers, turkeys