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chin-wag

chin-wag

1 8.4
A friendly relaxed chat between people, often over coffee
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃɪn.wæɡ/
  • Slang
translation icon : charla
  • Let's have a quick chin-wag over coffee.

Examples

  • They enjoyed a long chin-wag over coffee at the café.

  • After dinner, the old friends settled into their usual chin-wag about work and family.

  • Let's have a quick chin-wag before the meeting starts.

  • During our lunch break, we enjoyed a long chin-wag.

  • We enjoyed a lovely chin-wag over coffee at the café.

  • After dinner, we had a chin-wag about our holiday plans.

  • At the party, everyone gathered for a friendly chin-wag in the garden.

Synonyms

chatter
vschin-wag
87 3.5

Continuous talk about small things, often lively and noisy

is calmer relaxed social chatting rather than noisy ongoing talk
small talk
vschin-wag
  • Informal
65 2.1

Polite short talk about simple topics like the weather

is looser and more relaxed than polite icebreaker conversation
chitchat
vschin-wag
  • Informal
28 2.0

Friendly, light talk about unimportant things

is the general relaxed social talk without special purpose
gab
vschin-wag
  • Informal
12 7.1

A short friendly talk between people

focuses on relaxed social chatting rather than lively noise
chit-chat
vschin-wag
  • Informal
9 2.8

Short friendly talk about unimportant things

is used for relaxed social settings rather than formal speech
confab
vschin-wag
  • Informal
5 8.9

A short informal private talk between people

is more public and relaxed rather than private or secretive
convo
vschin-wag
  • Informal
4 9.1

A short informal talk between people

is the broader phrase for relaxed social conversation
schmooze
vschin-wag
  • Informal
4 8.7

A friendly informal talk to make people like you and build contacts

is casual social conversation without strategic relationship building
friendly banter
vschin-wag
  • Informal
1 2.8

Light joking talk that makes people laugh and feel welcome

is more general relaxed chatting without teasing or joking
chin music
vschin-wag
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Talk that is useless and does not help

is friendly relaxed conversation rather than foolish or irrelevant talk
table talk
vschin-wag
  • Informal
1 4.5

Talk that people have while they eat a meal

is broader relaxed social chatting not limited to mealtimes
yabber
vschin-wag
  • Australian
1 9.5

Light talk between people with little meaning

is social and friendly chatting rather than purposeless rambling
jawboning
vschin-wag
  • Informal
1 8.2

A long friendly talk that people use to persuade or catch up

is relaxed social chatting without the aim of persuading
chin-wagging
vschin-wag
  • Slang
8.6

Light informal chat between people to enjoy themselves

is the general term for relaxed informal conversation
chin wag
vschin-wag
  • UK
8.2

A friendly informal chat between people who know each other

is for relaxed social chatting rather than formal occasions
chin wagging
vschin-wag
  • UK
7.7

A friendly informal talk about unimportant things

is for relaxed social chatting without heavy topics
gup-shup
vschin-wag
  • Indian
9.9

A short friendly chat that helps people relax

is used in relaxed social settings beyond only close friends
causerie
vschin-wag
  • Literature
9.9

Light informal talk among people at social or literary gatherings

is everyday relaxed chat rather than literary or cultivated talk
to batting the breeze
vschin-wag
  • Informal
8.8

To talk in a relaxed way about nothing important

is relaxed social chat but not always aimless or purposeless
bavardage
vschin-wag
  • Informal
9.9

Light friendly talk about small unimportant things, often gossip

is general friendly chatting without emphasising gossip
tittle-tattle
vschin-wag
  • Archaic
8.4

Light, silly talk about other people

is broader friendly conversation not focused on gossiping about others
schmoose
vschin-wag
  • Informal
9.9

A friendly, informal talk about personal news

is general relaxed chatting rather than talk aimed at advantage
shmooze
vschin-wag
  • Informal
8.9

An informal friendly chat to make a useful connection

is relaxed social talk not necessarily aimed at networking
adda
vschin-wag
  • Indian
9.9

A relaxed friendly talk between people

is general relaxed chatting across cultures rather than region-specific

How Casual

gabfest
  • Informal
1 8.8
chit-chat
  • Informal
9 2.8
chin-wag
  • Slang
1 8.4
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0
conversation
1.0

Surface Forms

chin-wag singular
chin-wags plural

Morphology

chin-wag = chin + wag (semi-transparent) = chin + wag

The components 'chin' and 'wag' are clear, but the idiomatic meaning 'chat' is a metaphorical extension (chin 'wagging' = talking) rather than a strictly literal composition.

Etymology

Chin-wag is a playful British phrase that pictures your chin wagging while you talk, like a dog 'wags' its tail. So a chin-wag means a relaxed, friendly chat.