talk shop
/tɔːk ʃɒp/
Meaning
This idiom means to talk about your job, business, or profession, especially when you are not at work or are in a social setting where other people might find it boring. It is a casual way to describe discussing work matters outside office hours.
Examples
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Even when we go out for drinks, we always end up talking shop.
Even when we go out for drinks, we always end up talking shop.
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Let's promise not to talk shop during dinner tonight; we need a break.
Let's promise not to talk shop during dinner tonight; we need a break.
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They stood in the corner of the party, talking shop about their latest programming project.
They stood in the corner of the party, talking shop about their latest programming project.
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My spouse hates it when my colleagues come over and we start to talk shop.
My spouse hates it when my colleagues come over and we start to talk shop.
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We tried to discuss hobbies, but we inevitably went back to talking shop.
We tried to discuss hobbies, but we inevitably went back to talking shop.
Common Mistakes
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✗ We went to a bar and talked the shop.
✓ We went to a bar and talked shop.
The idiom is 'talk shop' without any article ('the' or 'a') before the word 'shop'.
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✗ They were speaking shop for hours.
✓ They were talking shop for hours.
The verb 'talk' is a fixed part of this idiomatic phrase; 'speak' cannot be used as a substitute.
Related Expressions
Practice
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We are at a birthday party, so please let's not ___.
💡 discuss work outside of office hours
Show answer
talk shop
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Whenever the sales team gets together for lunch, they always ___.
💡 discuss their job or business
Show answer
talk shop