bull session: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “bull session” mean?
An informal, leisurely conversation or discussion among friends or colleagues, often spontaneous and wide-ranging, sometimes late into the night.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal, leisurely conversation or discussion among friends or colleagues, often spontaneous and wide-ranging, sometimes late into the night.
A long, rambling, and often speculative or philosophical discussion, typically characterized by a free exchange of ideas, storytelling, or debating without a formal agenda.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated and remains more common in American English. In British English, similar concepts might be described as 'a late-night chat,' 'a natter,' or 'putting the world to rights,' but the specific phrase 'bull session' is recognized and understood.
Connotations
In AmE, connotes college dormitories, military barracks, or workplace breaks. In BrE, if used, may sound slightly Americanized or nostalgic.
Frequency
Peaked in usage around the 1950s-70s. Now considered somewhat dated or nostalgic in both varieties, but still in active use.
Grammar
How to Use “bull session” in a Sentence
[Subject] have/had a bull session[Subject] got into a bull session about [topic]A bull session ensued.It turned into a bull session.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bull session” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They spent the night bull sessioning about politics and poetry.
- We ended up bull sessioning till dawn.
American English
- We bull sessioned for hours after the game.
- They're in the common room, bull sessioning about their futures.
adverb
British English
- They talked bull-session style for hours.
- The meeting proceeded bull-session slowly, with many tangents.
American English
- We sat around bull-session casually, solving the world's problems.
adjective
British English
- The bull-session atmosphere was conducive to sharing secrets.
- It was a real bull-session kind of night.
American English
- He's got a bull-session style of leadership—very open and discursive.
- The bull-session dynamic helped break the ice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe an informal, speculative strategy talk among colleagues after work.
Academic
Used to describe informal student discussions outside class, especially in humanities/social sciences.
Everyday
Describing a long, meandering talk with friends, often about life, politics, or memories.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bull session”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bull session”
- Using it for a short, formal discussion. Confusing with 'bullshit session' (which has negative connotations).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly. While 'bull' can mean nonsense, 'bull session' emphasizes informal, lengthy talking, not necessarily deceitful content. The 'bull' might refer to casual, rambling talk.
Typically, no. A bull session is characterized by its lack of a formal agenda or goal. The conversation is the goal itself.
It is informal but not inherently offensive. Its historical association with all-male groups can make it sound dated. In modern usage, it can apply to any group.
They are very similar. 'Rap session' emerged later (1960s) and can sometimes imply a slightly more focused, perhaps therapeutic or confrontational discussion, whereas 'bull session' is purely recreational and discursive.
An informal, leisurely conversation or discussion among friends or colleagues, often spontaneous and wide-ranging, sometimes late into the night.
Bull session is usually informal in register.
Bull session: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʊl ˌseʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʊl ˌsɛʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shoot the bull/breeze (related activity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a group of people sitting around like bulls in a field, casually chewing over ideas instead of grass.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVERSATION IS A RELAXED, COMMON GRAZING ACTIVITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'bull session' LEAST likely to be used?