A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

talk English • talk in English
talk English —use the language in conversation: The team
leader was German with a funny northern German accent
when she talked English. I could understand her very well.
talk in English —have a discussion or conversation in En -
glish: The two ladies talked in English with Mr. Atwater, and
I talked and laughed with the two children close beside me.
talk on something • talk over something
talk on something— speak at greater length on a subject;
deliver a talk about a subject: I was asked to talk on the chal-
lenges which are likely to be faced by the scientific commu-
nity.
talk over something— discuss smth. more seriously and in
greater detail: I have seen numerous couples relax considerably
when they talked over with others their childlessness and the
accompanying fears.
talk shop • talk-shop
talk shop —talk about matters pertaining to one’s work or
profession: Wedged in among typewriters and an offset press,
the two menfolk “talked shop” for most of the afternoon. Cf.:
shop talk — a talk about one’s work or profession: The real power
of the conference was the conversations in the hallways, the
shop talk over coffee…
talk-shop —(derog.) a center for idle and unconstructive talk
(also: talking shop): The Social Forum should not be a mere talk-
shop but it has to contribute to a concrete approach to issues.
talk someone through something • talk something
through with someone
talk someone through something —provide detailed directions
which enable a person to do or understand smth.: The nurse
will talk you through the procedure and answer any concerns
you have.
talk something through with someone —discuss smth. in
detail; consider a matter thoroughly with a person: I need to
talk it through with my partner to make sure that he is happy
with how things are taking shape.