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In some senses, chit-chat is marked as colloquial. Watch for register when choosing this word.
chit-chat
noun 2verb 1
Collocations
3ADJ.
general, idle, polite
VERB + CHIT-CHAT
cut, making, quit, stop, wasted
PREP.
on, with
Definitions
noun
1
Light conversation; casual talk, usually about trivial matters.
He speaks rapidly, with clarity and with obvious enthusiasm. No time is wasted on idle chit-chat.
“What are you doing down here, father?” “Just having a bit of chitchat with your curious creation.” “Right.”
2
Gossip.
verb
1
To engage in small talk, to discuss unimportant matters.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — light informal conversation for social occasions
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
He speaks rapidly, with clarity and with obvious enthusiasm. No time is wasted on idle chit-chat.
Wiktionary02
“What are you doing down here, father?” “Just having a bit of chitchat with your curious creation.” “Right.”
Wiktionary03
Cut the chit-chat and get to work.
Tatoeba · #6505004
There's a lot of chit-chat.
Tatoeba · #152238105
The meeting started with some general chit-chat to break the ice.
Tatoeba · #338807106
I came here to talk business, not to chit-chat.
Tatoeba · #4758113Usage Notes
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