fleeting conversation about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'fleeting conversation about' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to imply that the conversation was brief or happened quickly. For example: "We had a fleeting conversation about the upcoming election before the bell rung."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lord Mandelson's spokesman said the case was discussed in "a fleeting conversation about the prisoner".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Except for two fleeting conversations on holidays about my cat and a purchase of suspenders, she and I haven't spoken in six months.

Huffington Post

No conversation about Iran.

The New York Times

Conversation about mutual friends.

The New Yorker

They had another conversation about art.

The New Yorker

It's a conversation about a person.

The New York Times

So we triggered conversation about these issues.

The New York Times - Arts

Join the Conversation About Summer Reading 1.

The New York Times

"That's their conversation about the day.

The New York Times

Or join Kim Cattrall, Janet Suzman and Jude Kelly in conversation about Cleopatra.

Independent

If, say, a conversation turned into a conversation about the conversation?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fleeting conversation about" to describe a brief, often inconsequential discussion. This emphasizes the short duration and potentially the lack of depth in the exchange.

Common error

Avoid using "fleeting conversation about" when the brief discussion had a significant impact or outcome, despite its short duration. In such cases, a different phrase highlighting the impact would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fleeting conversation about" functions as a noun phrase, where "fleeting" modifies "conversation", and "about" introduces the topic of the conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fleeting conversation about" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a brief discussion regarding a particular topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is useful for indicating the short duration of the discussion. While not extremely common, it finds its usage primarily in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, be mindful of the potential implication that the conversation was not particularly important or in-depth. Alternative phrases, such as "brief discussion regarding" or "quick chat concerning", can provide similar meanings with slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brief discussion regarding

This alternative emphasizes the short duration of the discussion and uses a more formal word choice.

short talk about

This alternative uses simpler language to describe the brief exchange.

quick chat concerning

This phrase uses more informal terms like "chat" and "concerning", indicating a casual exchange.

passing remark regarding

This alternative implies that the conversation was very brief and perhaps not very substantial.

brief exchange on the subject of

This phrase is more formal and highlights the exchange of ideas rather than a deep discussion.

cursory discussion about

Using "cursory" emphasizes the superficial and hurried nature of the conversation.

brief dialogue concerning

A more formal alternative, 'dialogue' suggests a structured exchange.

hasty conversation regarding

"Hasty" implies the conversation was rushed or hurried.

momentary discussion of

"Momentary" emphasizes the extremely short duration of the conversation.

a word about

This alternative is very concise and suggests a minimal amount of conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "fleeting conversation about" in a sentence?

You can use "fleeting conversation about" to describe a short or brief discussion on a topic, for example: "We had a "fleeting conversation about" the weather before the meeting started."

What's a good alternative to "fleeting conversation about"?

Alternatives include "brief discussion regarding", "quick chat concerning", or "short talk about" depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "fleeting conversation about"?

Use "fleeting conversation about" when you want to emphasize that a conversation was brief and perhaps not very detailed. It's suitable when the duration of the conversation is a key aspect of the description.

Is "fleeting conversation about" formal or informal?

"Fleeting conversation about" is generally considered neutral in tone. It's not overly formal, but it's also not slang or overly casual. It's appropriate for most writing contexts.