talked over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talked over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one person speaks while another is speaking, often resulting in a lack of clarity or understanding. Example: "During the meeting, several participants talked over each other, making it difficult to follow the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Being talked over in a meeting, or condescended to, is not just frustrating; it's career limiting.

Forbes

This past year we've talked over 60 thousand individuals globally.

Huffington Post

We talked over coffee.

Independent

"We just talked over every major decision.

The New Yorker

The emperor talked over him.

The New Yorker

They talked over coffee in Harvard Square.

The New York Times

They each talked over an hour.

The New Yorker

We talked over lunch — we talked all afternoon long.

The New York Times

We talked over the phone, and I insisted.

The New York Times

Crew members wore headphones and talked over microphones.

The New York Times

"I can see his peepee". The emperor talked over him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "talked over" followed by a noun like 'coffee' or 'lunch' to imply a casual or collaborative setting for a discussion. If the context is a meeting conflict, use it to describe a lack of conversational etiquette.

Common error

Avoid using "talked over" when you simply mean 'talked about'. "Talked over" implies either a shared experience (talking while doing something else) or an active conflict (interrupting). For a neutral topic description, prefer 'discussed' or 'talked about'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talked over" primarily functions as a phrasal verb or a verb followed by a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig, it can be transitive (to discuss something) or intransitive/social (to speak while another is speaking). It is frequently used to provide context to a conversation or to highlight a social interaction where one party dominates the audio space.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "talked over" is a highly effective and multi-functional phrase in the English language. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is most commonly employed to describe either the thorough discussion of a topic or the act of being interrupted. Its high frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in both neutral reporting and professional critiques. Writers should be mindful of the context to ensure the intended meaning—be it collaborative deliberation or social friction—is clear to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spoke over

Directly describes the physical act of vocalizing simultaneously with another person.

discussed

Focuses purely on the act of deliberation rather than the setting or method.

interrupted

Specifically denotes stopping someone from speaking, whereas the query can be more passive.

deliberated on

A more formal alternative used in professional or academic contexts.

talked through

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the discussion or the process of solving a problem.

conversed during

Highlights that the conversation happened concurrently with another event, like a meal.

hashed out

A more idiomatic and informal way to describe resolving an issue through discussion.

debated

Implies a formal or structured disagreement rather than a general conversation.

negotiated

Specifies that the discussion was aimed at reaching a formal agreement or deal.

drowned out

Suggests that the original speaker could not be heard at all due to the volume of the other.

FAQs

What is the difference between 'talked about' and 'talked over'?

While both involve communication, "talked about" focuses on the subject matter, whereas "talked over" often refers to the circumstances of the talk (e.g., during a meal) or the act of speaking while someone else is speaking.

Can 'talked over' be used in formal writing?

Yes, it is acceptable in formal contexts, especially when describing collaborative processes like when ideas are "deliberated on" or to report on workplace dynamics.

What does it mean when someone is 'talked over' in a meeting?

It means their voice was "interrupted" or suppressed by another person speaking at the same time, often perceived as a sign of disrespect or power imbalance.

Is 'talked over' a phrasal verb?

Yes, it functions as a phrasal verb. Depending on the usage, it can be synonymous with "discussed" or "spoke over".