| 释义 |
small-talk, n.
Also small talk.
[small a. 18.]
Light talk or conversation; chit-chat, gossip. Also attrib.
1751Chesterfield Let. 20 June, A sort of chit-chat, or small-talk, which is the general run of conversation..in most mixed companies. 1762Lady S. Lennox in Life & Lett. (1901) I. 122, I have wrote a great deal of small talk, as Mercadie calls it. 1810Crabbe Borough iii. 70 As your tea you sip, While the town small-talk flows from lip to lip. 1885Payn Talk of Town I. 18 The mere offer..may lead to volumes of small-talk. 1905A. Bennett Tales of Five Towns i. 22 ‘Will Harry be late at the works to-night again?’ she asked in her colder, small-talk manner, which committed her to nothing. 1977Gay News 7–20 Apr. 16/3 He will begin in a very small talk kind of way about anything and before long he builds up a kind of empathy between him and the other person.
Hence small-talk v. intr., to engage in small-talk; small-talkable a., -talker, -talking.
1782G. K. (title), The Festival of Wit; or, [the] Small Talker. 1786Colman in European Mag. IX. 370 Small wit, small plot—and last—not least, small-talking. 1848Clough Bothie v. 116 Thou in the palace, its author, art dining, small-talking and dancing. 1860W. Collins Wom. in White i. vi, A flirtable, danceable, small-talkable creature of the male sex. |