talking shop
Discussing the job
Talking shop means discussing work or professional matters in a social setting where such talk might bore others: We promised not to talk shop at dinner, but couldn't help ourselves.
The phrase often carries mild disapproval—the implication that shoptalk is tedious to those outside the field.
Shop here means one's trade or profession.
Professional associates
- coworkersPeople at same job
- officeProfessional work location
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
- break roomStaff relaxation space
industry · profession · trade · business · shoptalk · insider · technical · jargon
Exchange of ideas
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
chitchat · confab · natter · gossip · brainstorming · catching up · comparing notes · problem-solving
colleagues
Professional associates
- coworkersPeople at same job
- officeProfessional work location
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
break room · industry · profession · trade · business · shoptalk · insider · technical · jargon · expertise
discussion
Exchange of ideas
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
banter · chitchat · confab · natter · gossip · brainstorming · catching up · comparing notes · problem-solving · collaboration
talking shopsmall talk
Polite trivial conversation
shooting the breeze · chitchat · casual conversation · idle chatter · socializing
talk, shop, talks, talked, talker, talkers, shops, shopped, shopping