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Glite Dictionary
to talk about

to talk about

∞ 1.3
Speak with someone about a subject
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɔk əˈbaʊt/
translation icon : hablar de
  • We need to talk about the changes in our project plans during the meeting.
  • talk about people
  • talk about life
  • talk about books

So yeah, let's talk about skin and hair.

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Examples

  • If you want to be president, be prepared to talk about your religious beliefs.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Well, let's talk about good code and bad code.

    Lex Fridman

  • We start out and we talk about point groups.

  • Yeah, we're going to talk about that for real.

  • What do you mean when you talk about mission?

  • It's hard to talk about when this ends.

  • Oh, maybe we could talk about it some other time.

    Hell of a Summer (2023)

  • Now do you wanna talk about it?

    Jacket (2018)

  • And now let's talk about what's going on in August.

  • Our next major crisis hit when the entire country began talking about e-readers.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to discuss
vsto talk about
∞ 1.6

To talk with other people about something, often in detail

is more general, allowing short or detailed treatment alike
to bring up
vsto talk about
788 2.6

To mention a subject for discussion

is neutral between introducing a topic and discussing it later
to speak of
vsto talk about
532 1.9

To talk about someone or something

is more conversational and not limited to written reference
to talk of
vsto talk about
127 2.5

Mention something in conversation

covers both brief mentions and fuller examination of topics
to chat about
vsto talk about
  • Informal
40 1.6

To talk in a friendly, casual way about a subject

is neutral in tone and can be formal or informal
to converse
vsto talk about
29 3.3

To talk with someone in a friendly way

is wider, covering single-person remarks and formal speech too
to broach
vsto talk about
23 7.4

To bring up a difficult or sensitive subject

is broader, used for both delicate and ordinary subjects
to make mention of
vsto talk about
  • Formal
6 3.6

To briefly say something about a person or thing

allows either a short reference or a fuller conversation
to broach the subject
vsto talk about
6 6.7

To start talking about a topic that may be difficult or sensitive

is neutral about sensitivity and can be used for any topic
to discussing
vsto talk about
1.8

Talking with someone to share ideas and opinions

is broader, also covering brief or one-sided mentions
to talmbout
vsto talk about
  • Slang
9.9

To talk about something in informal speech

is standard and fits normal speech or formal contexts

Antonyms

silence
181 4.0

Not speaking about something when people ask you

How Much

debate
  • Formal
∞ 2.0
to discuss
∞ 1.6
to talk about
∞ 1.3
to bring up
788 2.6
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

talk + about

The meaning 'to discuss or mention a subject' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'talk' (to speak) with 'about' (introducing the topic). This verb + preposition composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and follows standard English usage, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase talk about comes from the simple image of people standing around an idea and speaking about it. Because you are speaking about a subject, the parts talk and about together now mean 'to discuss or mention' that subject.