talk him into

USAGE SUMMARY

"talk him into" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to persuade or convince someone to do something. Example: My sister was scared to go on the roller coaster, but I managed to talk her into trying it with me.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He was trying to talk him into surrendering, numerous times".

The New York Times

Secretly, he hoped she'd talk him into leaving.

The New Yorker

"I didn't necessarily talk him into it," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

It wasn't something we ever tried to talk him into.

The Guardian - Film

It took months to talk him into being her subject.

The New York Times

Henry Kissinger phoned Fischer to talk him into going.

The New Yorker

She is trying to talk him into furniture.

The New York Times - Magazine

You got to talk him into pleading, or he's going to be executed".

The New Yorker

Could he call Al and try to talk him into going to law school?

The New Yorker

"I didn't necessarily talk him into it (coming to Mercedes)," he continued.

Independent

She wanted the police to talk him into engaging in conversation with her.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "talk him into" when you want to emphasize the effort or process involved in persuading someone. It often suggests that the person was initially reluctant or resistant.

Common error

Avoid using "talk him into" when the person was already inclined to do something. The phrase implies active persuasion against some initial reluctance.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "talk him into" functions as a persuasive verb, indicating the act of convincing someone to do something they were initially unwilling to do. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "talk him into" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the act of persuading someone, often against their initial inclination. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts and carries a generally neutral tone. While "persuade" and "convince" serve as more formal synonyms, "talk him into" emphasizes the active process of persuasion. It's important to use this phrase when there's genuine resistance to overcome, not when someone is already eager or willing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persuade him

A more formal and direct way of saying "talk him into".

convince him

Similar to "persuade him", implying a change in belief or opinion.

influence him

Suggests a more subtle or indirect form of persuasion.

get him to agree

Focuses on obtaining consent or agreement.

win him over

Implies overcoming resistance or opposition.

coax him

Suggests gentle or playful persuasion.

encourage him

Focuses on inspiring confidence or motivation.

dissuade him

A negative connotation of "talk him into", indicating convincing someone not to do something.

reason with him

Implies using logic and argument to persuade.

bring him around

Suggests a gradual process of persuasion, often changing someone's initial viewpoint.

FAQs

How can I use "talk him into" in a sentence?

The phrase "talk him into" is used when you successfully persuade someone to do something they were initially hesitant about. For example: "I managed to "talk him into" trying the new restaurant."

What's a more formal alternative to "talk him into"?

For a more formal tone, you can use "persuade him" or "convince him". These alternatives are suitable for professional or academic contexts where ""talk him into"" might sound too casual.

What does it mean to "talk someone into" something?

To "talk someone into" something means to successfully persuade them to do it, often overcoming their initial reluctance or objections. It implies a degree of effort or skill in persuasion.

Is there a difference between "talking him into" and "convincing him of"?

"Talking him into" implies persuading someone to take a specific action, while "convincing him of" implies persuading someone to believe a certain idea or fact. You "talk him into" doing something, but you convince him of something.