talk things through

Meaning

This expression means to discuss a problem, plan, or situation thoroughly and in detail to reach an agreement, find a solution, or understand each other better. It is often used in relationships or professional settings to resolve conflicts calmly.

Examples

• Instead of getting angry, we sat down and decided to talk things through.

  Instead of getting angry, we sat down and decided to talk things through.

• If you are feeling stressed about the project, let's talk things through tomorrow.

  If you are feeling stressed about the project, let's talk things through tomorrow.

• It always helps to talk things through with a close friend when you are confused.

  It always helps to talk things through with a close friend when you are confused.

• The couple went to therapy to help them talk things through.

  The couple went to therapy to help them talk things through.

• We didn't agree at first, but after talking things through, we found a compromise.

  We didn't agree at first, but after talking things through, we found a compromise.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to talk through things.

  ✓ We need to talk things through.

  While 'talk through [something]' is grammatically possible, the idiomatic phrasal verb 'talk things through' keeps 'things' in the middle.

• ✗ Let's talk things about.

  ✓ Let's talk things through.

  'Talk through' means to discuss completely to find a solution, whereas 'talk about' is just general discussion.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before making a final decision, we should ___.

  💡 Discuss the details together.

  Show answer

  talk things through

• Whenever we have an argument, we try to ___ rather than ignore each other.

  💡 Solve the issue by communicating.

  Show answer

  talk things through