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to talk

to talk

331 6.1
Tell secrets or private facts because of pressure
  • verb
  • /tɔk/
  • Informal
: hablar
  • If you don't talk, your families will starve.
  • refuse to talk

When you walk in and you go talk to the feds, you're a rat.

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Examples

  • When I continued pestering him, he snapped angrily, "One doesn't talk about that," and left the room.

    Academic text (1999)
  • You promised me that you would never talk about this.

  • You only heard three shots, and you are not to talk to anyone about this.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I tracked her down and kept her talking until she told me what happened.

  • I told you specifically not to talk about the Bagman.

  • "I had access to secure things that I couldn't talk about," McCollum later said.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After hours of questioning, the suspect finally decided to talk about what happened during the robbery.

  • The new policy encourages employees to talk about any unethical behavior they witness in the workplace.

  • Under pressure from the authorities, he agreed to talk about his involvement in the illegal activities.

Synonyms

to tell the truth
vsto talk
∞ 2.7

Say what really happened without hiding facts or lying

is used when secrets come out due to external pressure rather than simple honesty
to tell
vsto talk
688 2.7

Report someone's actions to the police or an authority

is used when disclosure results from pressure rather than formal testimony
to tell the truth
vsto talk
  • Informal
292 3.2

To say something that is true even if it is surprising

is used when secrets are exposed because of pressure instead of moral decision
to disclose
vsto talk
245 4.1

To tell people information that was secret

is used when secrets appear because of pressure rather than official sharing
to tell all
vsto talk
  • Literature
146 5.6

Say all private things about a person or event

is used when secrecy breaks because of pressure rather than sheer disclosure
to come clean
vsto talk
  • Informal
116 4.1

To say the truth about something you kept secret

is used when secrets surface because of pressure rather than voluntary confession
to confide
vsto talk
96 4.6

To tell someone a secret and trust them not to tell others

is used when secrets are exposed due to pressure rather than trusted private sharing
to spill
vsto talk
94 4.5

To reveal secret information, often by mistake

is used when secrets come out because of pressure rather than by accident
to divulge
vsto talk
52 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

is used when secrets surface because someone is pressured rather than by planned release
to blab
vsto talk
  • Informal
33 7.4

To tell secrets without thinking

is used when secrets surface because of pressure rather than careless sharing
to breathe
vsto talk
21 7.4

To tell a secret

is used when secrets emerge from pressure rather than simple utterance
to spill the beans
vsto talk
  • Informal
18 6.0

Tell a secret by accident before others know

is used when disclosure happens from pressure, not by accident
to inform
vsto talk
15 6.8

To secretly tell the police about someone's illegal actions

is used when secrets come out because of pressure rather than secret reporting
to breathe a word
vsto talk
  • Informal
13 6.3

To tell someone a secret that should be kept

is used when secrets are exposed because of pressure rather than a single word being said
to tattle
vsto talk
  • Informal
10 7.0

Tell a person in charge about someone else's bad actions in a childish way

is used when secrets are revealed because someone is pressured rather than childish gossip
to blabber
vsto talk
  • Informal
9 7.8

To talk too much and tell secrets carelessly

is used when someone is pressured into exposing secrets rather than by rambling
to let the cat out of the bag
vsto talk
  • Informal
4 5.1

To tell a secret that should be kept

is used when information is forced out rather than revealed accidentally
to dish the dirt
vsto talk
  • Informal
2 8.5

To tell private or bad things about someone to other people

is used when exposure results from pressure rather than gossiping intent
to peach
vsto talk
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To tell authorities secret information about someone to get them in trouble

is used when exposure happens because someone is forced, not only informing
to blab out
vsto talk
  • Informal
1 7.9

To tell a secret carelessly or without meaning to

is used when secrets surface because someone is pressured rather than carelessness
to sing
vsto talk
  • Slang
1 8.4

To tell secret information to the police or other officials

is used when secrets are revealed under pressure, not only to authorities
to spill one's guts
vsto talk
  • Informal
1 8.1

To tell someone your private feelings or secrets openly

is used when exposure happens from pressure rather than open confession
1 9.1

To openly say something people usually keep secret

is used when hidden facts surface due to pressure rather than blunt admission
to babble out
vsto talk
  • Informal
1 8.0

To tell secrets without thinking

is mainly for pressure-driven exposure rather than uncontrolled words
to babble
vsto talk
1 5.3

Tell secret information carelessly to others

is used when disclosure is caused by pressure rather than by carelessness

Antonyms

208 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

To not tell anyone private information

204 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

Idioms

all talk
  • Informal
21 5.5

A person or thing that makes big promises but does not act

to talk the talk
  • Informal
20 7.4

To speak confidently about doing something without actually doing it

9 7.9

To speak confidently about what you can do without proving it

Something or someone that everyone in a place talks about

9 7.5

Speak to someone for a very long time in a way that annoys them

talk is cheap
  • Informal
7 7.0

Saying you will do something is easy but doing it matters

to talk turkey
  • Informal
7 7.0

Discuss important matters directly to reach an agreement

4 8.1

To speak to someone who does not respond or listen

2 7.0

To try to speak to someone who will not listen or answer

talk to the hand
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A rude phrase with a hand gesture that tells someone you will not listen

Speak with someone for a very long time until they get tired

To talk longer and more skillfully so the other person cannot answer

1 9.6

To speak more and make others stop talking

1 8.4

To speak to someone for a very long time until they get tired of listening

9.9

A person who says they will do things but never does them

An idea that a place could tell stories from its past

9.9

Speak as if you know about something when you do not

To say things without knowing the facts or that are not true

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.3

Speak with someone about a subject

257 3.0

Make someone agree to do something by giving reasons

220 2.5

Mention something in conversation

148 4.0

Change someone's mind so they do not do something

73 3.2

Discuss something carefully with someone before deciding

to talk back
  • Informal
62 5.4

Reply rudely to someone in charge like a teacher or boss

to talk down
  • Offensive
37 6.7

To speak to someone as if they are less smart or less important

to sweet-talk
  • Informal
27 5.3

To persuade someone by saying nice things to them

22 4.1

To say that something is better or more important than it really is

to talk dirty
  • Offensive
22 8.7

To say things about sex to someone to excite them

Pray to God to ask for help and comfort

to talk down to
  • Offensive
19 6.6

Speak to someone as if they are less smart or important

To discuss small safe topics to start conversation and fill silence

to talk trash
  • Offensive
18 7.5

Say insulting, bragging words to make someone angry or nervous

to talk shop
  • Informal
12 6.7

Speak only about work at a party or dinner

to talk big
  • Informal
11 7.8

To say you are more important or successful than you really are

to talk that shit
  • Offensive
9 9.9

To say rude, bragging things to impress people or make them angry

4 7.2

To discuss something again and again without reaching a decision

Speak when it is not your turn, often in a class or meeting

to talk down
  • Jargon
1 7.9

To guide a plane to land by giving radio instructions

Say things that are too hard for someone to understand

To speak out loud when alone to help you think

to talk shitbull
  • Offensive
9.9

To say false or exaggerated things to make others believe you

Compounds

268 2.5

A television or radio program where famous people speak about topics and answer audience questions

small talk
  • Informal
83 2.1

Polite short talk about simple topics like the weather

48 3.0

A short talk that encourages people before they do something important

sweet talk
  • Informal
26 4.3

Flattering words that try to persuade someone but are not sincere

12 5.8

A soft, simple way adults speak to infants to show affection

sex talk
  • Informal
12 5.4

A conversation about sex to teach people about bodies and safety

12 4.7

A close private conversation between romantic partners in bed

real talk
  • Slang
10 7.7

An honest serious conversation about difficult or important things

9 9.0

Confusing speech that hides the truth, often to avoid a direct answer

back talk
  • Informal
8 7.2

Rude replies people give to someone in charge

shop talk
  • Jargon
3 6.5

A conversation about work that uses words only people in the same job understand

table talk
  • Informal
2 4.5

Talk that people have while they eat a meal

2 5.8

Casual talk about small, unimportant things, often gossip

street talk
  • Slang
1 8.7

Informal words and phrases used in a neighborhood, often by young people

1 7.0

A talk that uses a blackboard and chalk to explain ideas

1 3.0

Speech that tries to make someone buy something

1 4.3

Words that sound important but have no real meaning or action

1 3.9

Speech by a very young child using simple sounds and words

monkey talk
  • Informal
1 8.9

Silly or unimportant talk that wastes time

1 7.1

A way of teaching by giving lectures with little student interaction

talk jockey
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A person who speaks too much and stops other people from speaking

How Willing

to confess
663 3.0
to spill the beans
  • Informal
18 6.0
to talk
  • Informal
331 6.1
to hesitate
301 2.5
to keep quiet
208 2.5

Surface Forms

talk infinitive
talked past
talked past participle
talking present participle
talks third person singular

Etymology

When talk means 'reveal secrets', it comes from the simple idea 'to tell' — the same root as tell and tale. So if someone 'talks' under pressure they 'tell' or give away private information.