How to Use small talk in a Sentence

small talk

noun

• They made small talk while waiting for the meeting to start.
• Our small talk happened in the mornings and in the nights.
  — Zito Madu, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2021
• Amid the tears and small talk, the group stopped and gave Jane Doe 1 a round of applause.
  — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 June 2021
• That’s why the small talk in this city isn’t about weather.
  — Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2021
• One of them makes small talk, asking about the name of his dog.
  — Scott Bronstein, CNN, 9 July 2020
• It’s the kind of thing that stops small talk and makes tough guys confess.
  — Sasha Frere-Jones, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022
• In the mind of someone with this sign, there is no point in small talk.
  — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 25 Oct. 2019
• Who has time for small talk when the clock is about to strike midnight?
  — Karla Pope, Good Housekeeping, 27 Nov. 2022
• Didn’t have a whole lot to say, just a little small talk.
  — Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2020
• Others are drawn to the idea of avoiding small talk and the pressure to tip.
  — Corina Knoll, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
• Dear OOO, How much small talk is the right amount in video meetings?
  — Megan Greenwell, Wired, 2 June 2021
• Williams had made some small talk and then threatened her with a gun.
  — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 15 Oct. 2020
• Just a clumsy elbow bump and a few worlds of small talk.
  — oregonlive, 12 Apr. 2020
• Now there was no small talk with neighbors in the grocery store.
  — New York Times, 21 Feb. 2022
• Matt makes the kind of small talk that signals his fear of being alone with his thoughts.
  — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2024
• Grant found fault with James making small talk with the kids who came to the Red Team to get burgers.
  — Kturnqui, oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2023
• So, with the handshakes and small talk now behind them, this could be where the rubber hits the road.
  — Eric Talmadge, Fox News, 4 July 2018
• Throughout her nearly 70 years on the throne, the 95-year-old monarch has mastered the art of small talk.
  — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 23 Aug. 2021
• After some small talk, Cook invites the man to wait out the delay with him in the first-class lounge.
  — Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2022
• So are the morning commutes and small talk and lunch dates and handshakes.
  — S. Mitra Kalita, Fortune, 26 May 2021
• The children fished for tadpoles in the stone pond while the rest of us snacked on fava beans and made small talk.
  — Jamie Quatro, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2023
• But even their small talk has a flirtatious tone to it.
  — Iana Murray, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2021
• Their friendship started the way most do: with small talk.
  — Washington Post, 21 July 2021
• Make a bit of small talk or, better yet, ask Vic a question.
  — BostonGlobe.com, 1 Nov. 2021
• The pair made brief small talk as Greene debated whether to run or scream or make a scene.
  — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Apr. 2021
• Now, there are lots of chances to bump into people, catch up, and make small talk.
  — Robin Abrahams, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Nov. 2022
• The team is excited to meet you, make small talk, and ad-lib a bunch of questions to fill time.
  — Alex Baia, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022
• After some small talk, Ms. Ozuna wrapped him a shiny black cape and got to work.
  — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2019
• Still, Watson’s go-to dinner-party small talk is better than yours.
  — Sean Gregory, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
• The time commitment, the awkward small talk during exercises…a hard pass, and last resort, just like surgery.
  — Kelli Acciardo, Allure, 20 Sep. 2024

Last Updated: 13 Nov 2024