conversation

conversation piece

Something unusual or interesting that becomes or is intended to become the topic of conversation when it is encountered by other people. Did you see Helen's new chair that's shaped like a giant red stiletto shoe? Yes, it's quite the conversation piece! Jane's new hairstyle became a conversation piece in the office because people couldn't believe she would cut her hair so short.
See also: conversation, piece

make conversation

To chat with someone simply for the sake of talking. I hate having to make conversation with the adults my parents invite to their dinner parties. A: "It's none of your business what I do for work." B: "I was just trying to make conversation, no need to be so sensitive!"
See also: conversation, make

open a conversation (with one)

To begin a speaking with one; to strike up a conversation with one. I just find it so hard to open a conversation with someone I don't know. They kept getting interrupted every time they tried opening a conversation.
See also: conversation, open

strike up a conversation (with one)

To begin a speaking with one; to strike up a conversation with one. I just find it so hard to strike up a conversation with someone I don't know. They kept getting interrupted every time they tried striking up a conversation.
See also: conversation, strike, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

open a conversation

to start a conversation. (See also strike up a conversation.) I tried to open a conversation with him, but he had nothing to say. She opened a conversation with an inquiry into my health, which got me talking about my favorite subject.
See also: conversation, open

strike up a conversation

to start a conversation (with someone). I struck up an interesting conversation with someone on the bus yesterday. It's easy to strike up a conversation with someone when you're traveling.
See also: conversation, strike, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

conversation piece

An unusual object that arouses comment or interest, as in That bust of Aunt Nettie is ugly but it's an excellent conversation piece. In the early 1700s this same term was used for a particular kind of painting that represented a group, often a family, arranged as though they were conversing with one another. Later in the century the term was extended to any object that stimulates conversation.
See also: conversation, piece

make conversation

Engage someone in talking purely for its own sake, make small talk, as in She had a real talent for making conversation with strangers. [c. 1920]
See also: conversation, make
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • conversation piece
  • open (one's) mind (to something)
  • open mind
  • open your mind to
  • opening
  • about last night...
  • have heard the last of (someone or something)
  • hear the last of (someone or something)
  • hear/see the end/the last of somebody/something
  • hear/see the last of somebody/something
References in periodicals archive
"True conversation makes life richer and gives us the chance to build up empathy and build connections and gain fresh perspectives across borders, cultures and generations.
Poet Tom's brainchild goes national
Here are a few important guidelines to note before you host a Community Conversation:
T-Squared: Help us spark policy conversations in your communities
In one study, they paired participants who had not met before and tasked them with having a 5-minute conversation featuring typical icebreaker questions (e.g., Where are you from?
You might have made a better first impression than you think
"The ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security Management is a demonstration of Conversation. One's efforts towards excellence and quality, which is necessary for our work with banks and Credit Unions, Insurance companies as well as other financial companies," says Chen Levkovich, the company's CEO.
Conversation.one Awarded the ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security Management
WhatsApp Mute Conversation feature now allows you to directly mute your conversations directly from the notification panel.
WhatsApp introduces Mute Conversations feature
Otter gives people the power to store, search and share the details of all important conversations without any limits or constraints.
AISENSE RELEASES OTTER AMBIENT VOICE INTELLIGENCE
If your contact failed to accept the invite by then, it will expire, and you will have to send another invite to initiate a Private Conversation.
Skype Private Conversations Feature Explained
Finally, a conversation where we come to a choice to act, and all action flowing from this kind of conversation is an action of love and service.
The Trinity, in conversation with the world
Econiq, the Crafted Conversation Intelligence Company, provides The Conversation Hub[R], a solution that simplifies and guides high-value complex frontline conversations.
Econiq models conversation behaviors of top-performing employees
Her argument that conversation was important for women is interesting as she highlights not only literary texts written by women but also their letter writing that allowed them the freedom to control what they wrote within the boundaries afforded them.
Katherine R. Larson. Early Modern Women in Conversation
This book is not so much about bashing or blaming technology (there is a cottage industry of such books), but a plea for recognizing the importance of conversation to human life.
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age
The additional security layer with end-to-end encryption can be enabled by turning on the 'Secret Conversations' option in your settings or you can individually enable it for specific people.
Facebook finally updates its Messenger app with end-to-end encryption; calls it 'Secret Conversations'
Introduction: The limited research examining weight conversations (i.e., conversations about weight, body shape, or size) in adult romantic relationships has shown associations between engaging in these conversations and disordered eating behaviors, overweight/obesity, and psychosocial problems in adults.
Weight conversations in romantic relationships: what do they sound like and how do partners respond?
If the first conversation you have about the employee's performance is at the time of termination you could be exposing yourself and the company to a claim/lawsuit, depending on the nature of the performance problem.
Avoiding difficult conversations can cost you: why it's not worth putting off performance-related conversations with employees
Summary: On Sunday, Kim Kardashian West posted a recording of a conversation on Snapchat between her husband Kanye West and Taylor Swift that was allegedly ...
Kim Kardashian vs. Taylor Swift: the legal implications of the Snapchat recording