Dictionary

table talk en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, uncountable) Conversation, especially of an informal or somewhat gossipy nature, among a group seated together for a meal or other social activity.
   • On the first day of a new statute in New York City to restrict smoking, the table talk in many restaurants was about lighting up. 1995 April 11, “Inside: p. B3”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 Sep 2012:
   • [T]hey all came out to supper. […] She was also pleased to see how Gregory toned up the table-talk and skilfully led it away from disagreeable topics. 1874, Edward Payson Roe, chapter 33, in Opening a Chestnut Burr:
   • Slowly, slightly, faith is trickling back, at least into Britain. […] Religion is civilised table talk. 2025 May 31, Tanjil Rashid, “Finding their religion”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 9:
   • [E]ven though there are announcers, they largely remain quiet, letting us hear all the table talk that goes on during and in between hands. 2007 January 5, “It's late, poker's on”, in The Herald, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA:
   • He ate like a starving Eskimo. […] The growing boy evidently did not believe in table-talk when he could use his mouth for more practical purposes. 1920 March – 1921 February, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter 1, in Indiscretions of Archie, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published 1921, →OCLC:
   • Grand Opera mishaps are usually more silly than solemn, and provide people with amusing table talk. 1937 February 8, “Music: Stage Dagger”, in Time:
2. (uncountable) Conversation that illicitly conveys information or suggestions to another player.
   • "Did you see that?" Paula pointed a lit cigarette. “No table-talk!” Alex snarled. 2002, David Fiore, Darkling I Listen, →ISBN, page 192:
   • One of the rules of the game is NO TABLE TALK, which means you don't want to bring moves to other players' attention that might benefit them or prevent them from making a damaging one. 2007, Joan Butman, Table Talk: Food for Thought That's Easy to Swallow!, →ISBN, page 1:
   • This then, is my hope: if at least one of us does not talk bridge at the table, the table talk will eventually be lessened. 2002, Roselyn Teukolsky, How to Play Bridge with Your Spouse and Survive, →ISBN, page 186:

Forms

Relateds

small talk · table talker