Verb “Talk”, meaning and usage

The verb “talk” [tɔːk] in English is a versatile term primarily used to describe the act of speaking or engaging in conversation. Grammatically, “talk” functions as both a transitive and intransitive verb, depending on the context. As an intransitive verb, it does not require a direct object (e.g., “They talk every evening”), while as a transitive verb, it can take a direct object (e.g., “She talked politics with her friends”).

“Talk” can convey various nuances of communication, such as discussing specific topics, expressing ideas, or engaging in casual conversation. Its meaning extends beyond mere speech to encompass negotiation, persuasion, and even reprimanding, depending on the context and accompanying words.

In English, “talk” is often combined with prepositions and adverbs to form phrasal verbs. These combinations modify its meaning and create expressions that are essential for fluent and natural speech. Understanding these phrasal verbs can greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English.

Let’s explore the top 20 phrasal verbs with “talk” to better understand their meanings and usage.

TOP 20 Phrasal Verbs with “talk” in English

• Talk about – discuss
  • Example: We need to talk about your plans for the future.
• Talk back – respond rudely
  • Example: Children should not talk back to their parents.
• Talk down – speak condescendingly
  • Example: He always talks down to his employees.
• Talk into – persuade
  • Example: She talked me into going to the party.
• Talk out – resolve through discussion
  • Example: Let’s talk out our differences and find a solution.
• Talk over – discuss
  • Example: We need to talk over the details before making a decision.
• Talk round – persuade
  • Example: He finally talked her round to his point of view.
• Talk through – discuss in detail
  • Example: Let’s talk through the plan step by step.
• Talk up – promote, praise
  • Example: She talked up the benefits of the new project.
• Talk down to – speak condescendingly
  • Example: Don’t talk down to me like I’m a child.
• Talk out of – dissuade
  • Example: He talked her out of quitting her job.
• Talk around – avoid a direct answer
  • Example: He talked around the issue without giving a clear answer.
• Talk at – speak without listening
  • Example: She talks at her kids rather than with them.
• Talk to – speak with someone
  • Example: I need to talk to you about our upcoming project.
• Talk away – talk continuously
  • Example: They talked away for hours without noticing the time.
• Talk around to – gradually persuade
  • Example: He talked me around to his way of thinking.
• Talk out – express thoughts fully
  • Example: She needed to talk out her frustrations.
• Talk back to – respond rudely
  • Example: He got in trouble for talking back to the teacher.
• Talk down from – dissuade from something dangerous
  • Example: She talked him down from making a rash decision.
• Talk out of – dissuade
  • Example: They talked him out of buying an expensive car.