to shoot the breeze

Examples

• All

• Even if you just want to talk, come in and shoot the breeze.

  Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

• Holly trees line brick sidewalks, where locals stop to shoot the breeze.

  Blog text (26)

• We were just two guys shooting the breeze.

  Keeping Mum (2005)

• Listen, I came here to do some business, not shoot the breeze.

  The Ninth Gate (1999)

• We were just shooting the breeze about the election.

  All the President's Men (1976)

• Just shooting the breeze, man.

  Redacted (2007)

• We'll just sit around, shoot the breeze for a while.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I'd love to stay and shoot the breeze and all, but...

  The Jungle Book 2 (2003)

• My Biology II teacher mostly liked to shoot the breeze with his players (he was a basketball coach).

  Blog text (28)

• We were just two friends shooting the breeze at the coffee shop.

Synonyms

C

to chat

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

375 1.0

To talk in a friendly, informal way about small everyday things

is less specifically about friendliness

C

to chat about

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

70 1.6

To talk in a friendly, casual way about a subject

is broader and not tied to a single specific subject

C

to converse

vsto shoot the breeze

48 3.3

To talk with someone in a friendly way

is specifically light informal talk about unimportant matters, not any conversation

C

to chatter

vsto shoot the breeze

45 2.7

To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things

is not necessarily rapid and may be slower or more measured

T

to talk about the weather

vsto shoot the breeze

18 1.0

To discuss small safe topics to start conversation and fill silence

is not limited to being social filler and can cover casual topics more widely

C

to chitchat

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

10 3.0

To talk in a friendly, light way about unimportant things

is used to pass time rather than settle issues

J

to jaw

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

8 7.7

To talk for a long time in a relaxed, often boring way

is not mainly tedious and may be more brief and light

C

to chit-chat

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

7 4.1

To talk in a friendly, light way about unimportant things

is casual exchange aimed at small topics rather than social ritual

N

to natter

vsto shoot the breeze

• UK

4 7.9

Talk in a friendly way about small unimportant things

is not defined only by friendliness and may be neutral

C

to chew the fat

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

3 7.9

Talk in a friendly, relaxed way for a long time

is not mainly defined by being long or lengthy

J

to jawbone

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

2 9.3

Talk in a friendly, relaxed way

is not necessarily idle or gossip focused and may be general

C

to confab

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

1 8.5

To talk briefly and informally with someone, often in private

is not typically used for decision making or planning

S

to shoot the bull

vsto shoot the breeze

• US

1 8.1

To chat in a relaxed way about everyday things

is more about light unimportant topics than mere passing time

J

to jive about

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

1 8.5

To talk in a lively, informal way about things like music

is usually calmer and less lively in tone

C

to convo

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

1 8.7

To talk briefly in an informal way

is usually not limited to brief exchanges and can be longer

C

to chaffer

vsto shoot the breeze

• Archaic

1 9.9

Talk in a friendly way about small, unimportant things

is not defined by deliberate avoidance of facts

C

to confabulate

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

1 8.7

To chat with others about small, unimportant things

is not limited to trivial topics

B

to bat the breeze

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

8.1

To talk in a relaxed, friendly way

is not strictly purposeless and can serve social ends

B

to batting the breeze

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

8.8

To talk in a relaxed way about nothing important

is sometimes purposeful and not purely aimless

S

splitting the breeze

vsto shoot the breeze

• Informal

9.9

Talking in a friendly, relaxed way with other people

is not limited to group conversation and can be one on one

C

to claver

vsto shoot the breeze

• Archaic

9.9

To have a light friendly chat about unimportant things

is not specifically about gossip or personal rumours

Antonyms

A

to argue

∞ 2.8

To give reasons to support or oppose an idea

How Casual

to shoot the breeze

• Informal

9 6.8

to gab

• Informal

13 6.9

to chat

• Informal

375 1.0

small talk

• Informal

83 2.1

to greet

318 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology