talk about
A1 (Beginner)Informal to neutral; widely used in spoken and written English.
Definition
Meaning
To discuss a particular topic or subject.
To consider or examine something in conversation; to speak on a matter; often used to introduce a topic that prompts discussion or emphasis.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A phrasal verb that functions as a transitive unit; can be used literally (to discuss) or figuratively (to express surprise or emphasis, e.g., 'Talk about lucky!').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning; slightly more common in American English as an interjection for emphasis.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can imply gossip or extended discussion when used in certain contexts (e.g., 'People will talk about it').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
talk about + noun/noun phrasetalk about + pronountalk about + -ing formtalk about + wh-clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “talk about the pot calling the kettle black”
- “talk about a flash in the pan”
- “talk about rubbing salt in the wound”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings to introduce agenda items (e.g., 'Let's talk about the quarterly figures').
Academic
Employed in seminars or papers to indicate the subject of discussion (e.g., 'This chapter talks about cognitive theories').
Everyday
Common in social conversations to shift topics (e.g., 'Can we talk about something else?').
Technical
Less frequent; prefer 'discuss', 'examine', or 'analyse' in formal technical writing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We should talk about the budget at the next meeting.
- He talked about moving to Scotland last year.
American English
- Let's talk about the game this weekend.
- She talked about starting her own business.
adverb
British English
- Talk about quickly—he finished in record time!
American English
- Talk about expensive, that car costs a fortune!
adjective
British English
- It was a much-talked-about film in the media.
American English
- The talk-about topic at the conference was AI ethics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We talk about our families.
- Can we talk about homework?
- They talked about buying a new car.
- The article talks about climate change.
- The panel will talk about the implications of the new policy.
- We need to talk about what happened yesterday.
- His latest book talks about the socio-economic factors influencing migration patterns.
- The documentary talks about the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'talk about' as opening a conversation box—you put a topic inside to examine it together.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVERSATION IS A CONTAINER (topics are placed 'in' discussion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'говорить о' when 'discuss' is more appropriate in formal contexts.
- Don't confuse with 'tell about' which implies one-way information sharing.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'talk for' instead of 'talk about' (e.g., 'We talked for our plans' → incorrect).
- Omitting the object (e.g., 'We need to talk about' → incomplete).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'talk about' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans informal; in very formal writing, 'discuss' or 'examine' may be preferred.
No, it requires an object (e.g., a noun, pronoun, or gerund) to complete the meaning.
'Talk about' is more common and general; 'talk of' is slightly more formal and often implies mention or rumor (e.g., 'There was talk of a merger').
As an interjection at the start of a sentence (e.g., 'Talk about busy! I've had meetings all day.').