serious talk

USAGE SUMMARY

"serious talk" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate a serious conversation about something important. For example: "Let's have some serious talk about our upcoming financial plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"A Serious Talk" is fine for "Pie".

The New Yorker

"Now for a serious talk," she said.

The New Yorker

"This is serious talk," Mr. Morsi said, to loud cheers.

The New York Times

There was serious talk about reforming the Palestinian Authority.

The New York Times

There'd been plenty of serious talk throughout the day.

The Guardian - Books

There is, of course, serious talk of a Labour split.

The Guardian

There was no serious talk of landmark designation.

The New York Times

When men begin serious talk, beauties are left to themselves.

The New Yorker

There is no serious talk of bringing such technology to clay, particularly the French Open.

The New York Times - Sports

No serious talk of budget reductions can leave out defense spending.

The New York Times

But instead of sitting him down for a serious talk, they let him live his life.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serious talk" to signal the importance and gravity of a conversation, especially when addressing sensitive or critical topics.

Common error

Avoid using "serious talk" when the subject matter is light or unimportant; doing so can create a sense of unwarranted alarm or drama.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious talk" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies "talk". It often acts as the object of a verb (e.g., have a serious talk) or follows a preposition (e.g., for a serious talk), denoting a conversation of significant importance. Ludwig provides several examples of its usage in varied sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious talk" is a common and correct phrase used to describe a conversation about an important or sensitive topic. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for a variety of contexts, ranging from news reports to personal conversations. When writing, it's best to use "serious talk" when the topic genuinely warrants a thoughtful discussion and to avoid using it in trivial situations. If you're looking for alternative ways to express the same idea, phrases like "earnest discussion" or "frank exchange" can be used to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

important discussion

Emphasizes the significance and weight of the subject matter being discussed.

crucial conversation

Highlights the critical nature and potential consequences of the conversation.

heart-to-heart conversation

Implies a deep, personal, and emotionally honest conversation, often about feelings and relationships.

earnest discussion

Suggests a sincere and purposeful conversation focused on important topics.

meaningful dialogue

Implies a conversation with substance and purpose, leading to understanding or progress.

frank exchange

Indicates an open and honest conversation, potentially involving differing viewpoints.

intense discussion

Signifies a focused and emotionally charged conversation.

tough talk

Suggests a difficult or challenging conversation, often involving uncomfortable truths.

straight talk

Emphasizes direct and unfiltered communication, without sugarcoating or evasion.

sit-down

Suggests a formal or organized conversation, often to address a specific issue or make a decision.

FAQs

How can I use "serious talk" in a sentence?

You can use "serious talk" to describe a conversation about something important, such as "We need to have a "serious talk" about our finances" or "My parents sat me down for a "serious talk" about my future".

What is another way to say "serious talk"?

Alternatives to "serious talk" include "earnest discussion", "frank exchange", or "important discussion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "serious talk"?

It's appropriate to use "serious talk" when referring to a conversation that is intended to be important, thoughtful, and focused on a significant issue or decision.

Is "serious talk" formal or informal?

"Serious talk" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is more commonly used in everyday language than in highly formal writing.