talk into
B1Informal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To persuade or convince someone to do something they may be reluctant or hesitant to do.
It implies using verbal influence, often persistent or manipulative, to overcome someone's resistance or initial unwillingness to act. It can also refer to accidentally or unintentionally revealing information.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A separable phrasal verb. The persuasion often involves appealing to emotions, logic, or pressure. The result is a change in the listener's decision or action. The more common meaning is that of persuasion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use it identically in the core persuasive sense. The informal sense of 'inadvertently revealing information' (e.g., talk oneself into trouble) is also common in both.
Connotations
Equally common and carry the same potential nuance of slight manipulation or persistent coaxing.
Frequency
Equally frequent and colloquial in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] talk [Object] into [Gerund/Noun Phrase]He talked his friend into lending him the car.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Talk yourself into a corner (reveal too much).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used informally in negotiations or team dynamics, e.g., 'She talked the client into extending the contract.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; more likely in reported speech or case studies about influence.
Everyday
Very common for discussing persuasion in personal decisions, e.g., plans, purchases.
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to talk his mates into a weekend camping in the Lake District.
- Don't let them talk you into signing anything you've not read.
American English
- She talked her parents into letting her study abroad for a semester.
- I can't believe I let you talk me into this roller coaster!
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend talked me into watching a funny film.
- He talked his sister into playing football.
- I didn't want to go out, but Sarah talked me into it.
- They talked him into applying for the new job.
- With considerable effort, the agent talked the author into accepting the publishing deal.
- She has a knack for talking people into volunteering for community projects.
- The barrister subtly talked the witness into admitting he had been present at the scene.
- Through a mixture of flattery and logic, he talked the board into approving the risky investment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone being verbally PUSHED *into* a doorway leading to an action they didn't want to take. The words 'talk' create a path 'into' the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSUASION IS GUIDED MOTION (words guide a person into a new action/state).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as "говорить в". Use "уговорить" or "убедить" + infinitive. Confusion with "talk about" (обсуждать) is possible.
Common Mistakes
- Using incorrect preposition: 'talk someone to do' (INCORRECT) vs. 'talk someone into doing' (CORRECT). Forgetting the object: 'He talked into going' (INCORRECT) vs. 'He talked *me* into going' (CORRECT).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct grammatical structure after 'talk into'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal. It is common in speech and informal writing but less common in very formal academic or legal texts, where 'persuade' or 'convince' might be preferred.
'Persuade' is more general and formal. 'Talk into' often implies the person was initially unwilling and required more persistent, conversational effort to change their mind. They are often interchangeable, but 'talk into' is more colloquial and image-rich.
Very rarely. Its primary meaning is metaphorical (persuasion). A forced literal interpretation like 'He talked into the microphone' uses 'into' as a simple preposition of direction, not part of the phrasal verb 'talk into'.
The direct antonym is the phrasal verb 'talk out of', meaning to persuade someone *not* to do something. For example: "I talked her out of quitting her job."