back chatter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back chatter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to informal or irrelevant conversation, often in a context where someone is speaking back or responding in a way that is not directly related to the main topic. Example: "During the meeting, there was a lot of back chatter that distracted us from the main agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Gossip often stings, but research shows that behind-the-back chatter is not always bad.

Science Magazine

The women appeared to be violently overreacting to everything related to her -- especially given that Olivia, an openly provocative frontrunner, has drawn mostly catty behind-the-back chatter rather than overt bullying and insinuations about her deep-seated unsuitability for Ben as a spouse.

Huffington Post

That is because the brain can carry out immediate visual processing even when it does not have time for any cognitive back-chatter.

The Economist

We need to back our chatter up.

The New York Times

There is something sanctimonious, maybe even hypocritical, about placing the onus purely on the media – they are often only reflecting back our chatter and activity back at us.

The Guardian - Opinion

And if you build IM and social networking into every productivity application without instituting reasonable use policies, don't be surprised if back-channel chatter consumes whatever time savings were achieved from a smaller inbox.

Forbes

"I made some comment about him, I don't remember exactly what, but I got the typical teenager guttural sigh and Katie rolled her eyes at me as if to say, 'Oh Dad, you are so out of it.' " After that, the back-seat chattering stopped.

The New York Times

Conscience calls Dasein back from this chatter silently.

The Guardian - Opinion

Granger failed to back up his chatter, finishing with 9 points on 4-of-15 shooting.

The New York Times - Sports

Everybody has issues with a lot of chatter back here, pay attention one minute".

The New York Times

They followed us around like puppies, and whenever they thought they were being addressed, they would chatter back (they do really say "gobble gobble," by the way).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back chatter" to describe situations where informal or irrelevant conversation distracts from a primary activity or discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "back chatter" when the side conversation is relevant or crucial to the main discussion. The phrase implies a degree of irrelevance or distraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back chatter" functions as a noun phrase, typically describing distracting or irrelevant conversation that occurs alongside a main activity. As Ludwig AI explains, "back chatter" refers to informal or irrelevant conversation, often in a context where someone is speaking back or responding in a way that is not directly related to the main topic.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back chatter" refers to distracting, irrelevant, or secondary conversations occurring in the background of a primary activity. While Ludwig AI states the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, its prevalence is limited. It's commonly used in news articles and scientific contexts. Alternatives include "background noise" and "side conversation", which offer similar but slightly different connotations. When using the term, consider the context and whether the side conversation is genuinely disruptive and unrelated to the main subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

background noise

Focuses on the disruptive aspect of the chatter.

side conversation

Highlights the parallel nature of the chatter.

irrelevant discussion

Emphasizes the lack of pertinence of the chatter.

off-topic remarks

Stresses the deviation from the main subject.

incidental comments

Underlines the casual and secondary nature of the chatter.

unofficial dialogue

Highlights the informality and lack of official status of the chatter.

peripheral communication

Emphasizes the chatter's location on the edge of the main conversation.

secondary discourse

Highlights the subordinate status of the chatter in relation to the primary discussion.

casual banter

Emphasizes the light and playful nature of the chatter.

conversational digression

Focuses on the way the chatter departs from the central theme.

FAQs

How can I use "back chatter" in a sentence?

You can use "back chatter" to describe distracting or irrelevant conversation happening in the background of a primary activity. For example, "The meeting was unproductive due to constant back chatter."

What's the difference between "back chatter" and "background noise"?

"Back chatter" specifically refers to conversation, while "background noise" can include any type of ambient sound. "Back chatter" implies human voices engaged in possibly distracting or irrelevant talk.

What are some alternatives to "back chatter"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "side conversation", "irrelevant discussion", or "background noise".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the term "back chatter"?

The term "back chatter" is appropriate when describing a situation where there's ongoing, often distracting, informal conversation happening concurrently with a primary activity or event. It's commonly used to indicate that this chatter is a nuisance or impediment.