chit-chat
/ˈtʃɪttʃat
/informal
noun [mass noun]
Inconsequential conversation: it was a leisurely dinner with much chit-chat and laughter...
- Nothing much came of their conversation, just common chit-chat.
- Their dinner party chit-chat concerned the humdrum topic of house prices.
- During the break, Ms Flynn was left to awkwardly sit down beside the Taoiseach and exchange small talk - chit-chat, you might say.
Synonyms
small talk, chat, chatting, chatter, chitter-chatter, prattling, prattle, gossip, tittle-tattle, tattle
British informal nattering, chuntering
verb [no object]
Talk about trivial matters: I can’t stand around chit-chatting...
- The last thing this hotel will be is a wee B&B with a wee landlady who's forever chit-chatting to you.
- I was happily floating around to different groups all night, talking, chit-chatting, catching up with some old faces and taking silly pictures.
- I see them hanging out every morning together, chit-chatting.
Origin
Late 17th century: reduplication of chat1.