talking over
Cutting someone off
Talking over someone means speaking while they're speaking, drowning out their words with yours: He kept talking over me every time I tried to make a point.
The phrase suggests rudeness or dominance—refusing to yield the conversational floor.
Separately, to talk something over is to discuss it thoroughly: Let's talk it over before we decide.
- cutting offSeparating by force
- steamrollingOverpowering through sheer force
- interruptBreak in upon
- drowning outObscuring by being louder
- monopolizingTaking exclusive control
speaking out of turn · override · interjecting · having a say · back and forth · debate · mutual understanding · negotiating · deliberating · silencing · brainstorming · overlapping · pushy · discussing · butting in · dominating · meeting · conversation
- phone etiquettemuting, voicemail, caller ID, speakerphone, call waiting
- interruptionsinterruption, cutting off, disruption, butting in, interjecting
- dominance tacticsbullying, commanding, controlling, dictating, domineering
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- mistreatmentbullying, harassing, intimidating, oppressing, humiliating
talking overkeeping quiet
Remaining silent
listening · waiting your turn · biting one's tongue · not interrupting · shutting up
talking overdeferring
Postponing or yielding respectfully
taking turns · stepping back · holding back · pausing · giving space