作者名称 国旗国籍

di

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ES

2019.08.24 17:07

Small talk

Small talk - polite conversation, usually with strangers

, that passes the time - is annoying to some people, but we all engage in it once in a while. So what are some common topics of small talk in English?

The Weather

I think this is the most common topic. I talk about the weather with people when I don't know what else to say. 😄

Here's a short dialogue that includes some idioms:

-It's so hot today.
-Yeah, it's a scorcher (meaning the temperature is very high).
-I know I shouldn't complain because winter will be here soon.
-You're right, but this heat is ridiculous.

Another common small talk topic is traffic and construction projects. It's summer in the United States, which means it's the season of orange barrels and traffic cones. Everyone bonds over their mutual hatred of both of these things.

[a conversation between two office workers on an elevator]:

-It took me so long to get to work. The freeway was like a parking lot (meaning no one was moving; traffic was at a standstill).
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah, one lane was closed and I couldn't take the exit I usually take.
-I hate driving on the freeway, so I take surface streets (surface streets are not a part of the freeway system).
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Comments

  • 𝕵𝖚𝖆𝖓𝖐𝖆 2019.08.24 17:09

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    Very useful.Thank you
  • Carlos Henrique 2019.08.24 17:09

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    Hello
  • di 2019.08.24 17:10

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    @𝕵𝖚𝖆𝖓𝖐𝖆 You're welcome! I was hoping it would be useful. 😄
  • 𝕵𝖚𝖆𝖓𝖐𝖆 2019.08.24 17:11

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    @di It truly is.Thanks again
  • di 2019.08.24 17:13

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    @Carlos Henrique Hi
  • Itzel 2019.08.24 17:15

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    excellent! very useful examples
  • Isaí Anaya 2019.08.24 17:28

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    It’s funny how this kind of themes work in different cultures. I live in México and, at least talking for myself, is funny to make small chat competition of the most absurd themes. Just yesterday I was talking with a friend of the things you do when you’re getting old and you doesn’t realize. Like: coughing while you’re laughing. Raising from the chair grumping and complaining just because. When children refer to you as Sr. or Mr. I think that could be more funny than the regular small talk. And we aren’t that old, I’m 35. That’s the irony. Or maybe the funny thing is that we refuse to accept our elderness 😅 Feel free to correct me please. Have a good day ( <—— old people’s phrase)
  • Isaí Anaya 2019.08.24 17:30

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    I’m starting to notice my mistakes and realized I can’t edit my posts. 🙃
  • ماجدة Magda 2019.08.24 18:12

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    Thank you, girl!!🙋🏾‍♀️
  • ماجدة Magda 2019.08.24 18:12

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    Thank you, girl!!🙋🏾‍♀️
  • di 2019.08.24 18:31

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    @ماجدة Magda You're very welcome
  • di 2019.08.24 18:35

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    @Isaí Anaya That's okay. It sounds like you're talking about conversations between good friends, which is a bit different than small talk.
  • di 2019.08.24 18:41

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    @Isaí Anaya I don't think I can correct your post. Or maybe I just don't know how...🤦🏾‍♀️
  • Isaí Anaya 2019.08.24 18:51

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    @di I think you just tap and hold the text. The options come out.
  • Isaí Anaya 2019.08.24 18:52

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    “Comes” hehe, I saw that one.
  • di 2019.08.24 19:19

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    @Isaí Anaya I tried that, but I don't see the correction button.
  • Isaí Anaya 2019.08.24 19:35

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    Oooh you can’t correct answers. The app doesn’t let anyone to do that. 😒
  • Olmo 2019.11.06 00:11

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    I’ve always wondered why Americans are so capable in small talk. They can talk about the pettiest things as if they were all crucial. I barely can complete two sentences when I’m not interested in the topic.
  • Andres Valencia 2020.01.21 12:44

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    Di me puedes ayudar con mi ingles?
  • Guifre 2020.03.12 19:00

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    I wonder why not everyone speaks like you....it would be easy for all of us (non english speakers xD)
  • di 2020.03.12 19:03

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    @Olmo Hahaha, I guess it's a cultural thing. We're great pretenders.
  • di 2020.03.12 19:04

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    @Guifre Thanks. That's a very nice compliment. 😃
  • Guifre 2020.03.12 19:05

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    @di 😉
  • PEDRO 2020.03.22 00:23

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    Hi, I want to learn English but I don't speak it very well. I can help you with Portuguese!
  • Gilson Costa 2020.04.09 03:03

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    Muito bom!
  • Rafael 2020.06.03 01:53

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    Oh, great material you've put here, Di. Thanks for sharing
  • Bladimir Aquino 2021.01.04 19:08

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    Hola

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