talk shop

USAGE SUMMARY

"talk shop" is a correct expression in written English, used to refer to a conversation where two individuals discuss work matters, or to work in general.
Example sentence: "We can go out for drinks later, but let's talk shop first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They talk shop.

The New York Times

No matter; before long, they talk shop.

Harvard Business Review

When we get together, we always talk shop.

The New York Times

Artists themselves, they had come to talk shop.

The New York Times

Everybody is there to take pictures and talk shop.

The New York Times - Travel

Whenever players get together, they are bound to talk shop.

The New York Times - Sports

Lets connect, talk shop, and build some original and meaningful start-ups in the process.

The New York Times

Saturdays typically find conjurers getting together to talk shop and share tricks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Let's talk shopping.

Huffington Post

Talking shop.

The New York Times - Sports

Pacino almost never talks shop.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "talk shop" when you want to casually describe a conversation focused on work or professional topics. It's appropriate for informal settings but can also be used in a neutral context to indicate a focus on business matters.

Common error

While "talk shop" is widely understood, it might be too informal for highly professional or academic writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "discuss professional matters" or "confer about work" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talk shop" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, describing the action of discussing topics related to one's work or profession. Ludwig confirms that it's a correct expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "talk shop" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe conversations focused on work or professional interests, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While mainly neutral, it leans slightly towards informality and is frequently used in news and media contexts, along with academia and formal business settings. Ludwig's examples show that it's used to describe casual or regular discussions among professionals. While widely understood, it may be best to opt for more formal alternatives in certain high-level professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discuss business

Focuses more on the commercial aspect of work.

confer about work

Implies a more formal and structured discussion.

discuss professional matters

More formal and explicitly refers to career-related topics.

exchange industry insights

Highlights the sharing of expertise within a specific field.

hash over work-related issues

Suggests a more intense or problem-focused discussion.

bandy about work topics

Implies a casual and unstructured discussion.

chew the fat about the job

An informal expression for discussing work at length.

get down to business

Emphasizes starting the work discussion or task.

speak of one's trade

Refers to discussions specifically about one's craft or profession.

deliberate on career affairs

Suggests a more serious and considered discussion about career-related topics.

FAQs

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

You can use "talk shop" to describe a conversation where people discuss their jobs or professional interests. For example, "Whenever we get together, we always "talk shop"".

What does "talk shop" mean?

"Talk shop" means to discuss matters relating to your work or profession, often in a casual or informal setting.

Are there any synonyms for "talk shop"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "discuss business", "confer about work", or "discuss professional matters" as alternatives to "talk shop" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "talk shop" in formal writing?

While "talk shop" is widely understood, it's generally more appropriate for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more professional alternatives.