chit-chat
chit-chat — noun
1. Friendly, informal talk about everyday subjects that are not serious — for examp
Friendly, informal talk about everyday subjects that are not serious — for example, the weather, what you did at the weekend, or people you both know.
Ritu and Nkechi had a bit of chit-chat before the meeting started.
uncountable: a bit of chit-chat
The coffee machine in the office is where most of the morning chit-chat happens.
place collocation: chit-chat happens
Gabriel was never good at polite chit-chat with strangers at parties.
The teacher asked the class to stop the chit-chat and open their textbooks.
A little chit-chat about the weather helped break the ice between them.
- small talk
the most common synonym; specifically refers to polite conversation about everyday things, especially in social or professional settings
- gossip
more specific — involves talking about other people's private lives, often with a negative connotation
- chat
broader in meaning; can be about any topic, not necessarily unimportant ones
- chatter
often suggests continuous or annoying talk, or talk that is very trivial
- discussion
serious talk about an important topic, with the goal of reaching an understanding or decision
- debate
formal argument or exchange of views on a specific issue
文法句型
chit-chat about + topic
a bit of chit-chat
some chit-chat
用法筆記
Chit-chat is uncountable, so you cannot say 'a chit-chat' or 'chit-chats' in formal writing, though 'a chit-chat' appears occasionally in very informal British speech.
常見錯誤
chit-chat — verb
1. To have a relaxed, friendly conversation about light, everyday topics — for inst
To have a relaxed, friendly conversation about light, everyday topics — for instance, what you did at the weekend, the weather, or people you know — especially during a break at work, a party, or while waiting somewhere.
Kenji and Christopher spent ten minutes chit-chatting about their weekend plans.
chit-chat about + topic
Sari chit-chatted with the shop assistant while waiting for her order.
chit-chat with + person
The two neighbours chit-chatted over the garden fence every Saturday morning.
Instead of finishing the report, Rafael and Selim were chit-chatting near the water cooler.
Élise chit-chatted with her cousin on the phone for nearly an hour after dinner.
- chat
the closest neutral synonym; less informal than chit-chat
- gossip
similar but implies talking about other people's private lives
- shoot the breeze
an informal American idiom for the same idea, but much more casual and limited to certain dialects
文法句型
chit-chat with + person
chit-chat about + topic
chit-chat over + noun
用法筆記
The verb is intransitive, so it needs 'with' before the person you are talking to (not 'chit-chat someone'). It often suggests the conversation is relaxed, friendly, and slightly distracting from more serious activities.