shoot the breeze
Related to shoot the breeze: same old same old, run errands
shoot the breeze
To chat or converse aimlessly or casually, without any serious topic of conversation. Customers always want to shoot the breeze with me in the store before they buy something. I just shot the breeze with John for a while when he passed me on the street.
See also: breeze, shoot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
shoot the breeze
Fig. to chat casually and without purpose. We spent the entire afternoon just shooting the breeze. It was good to shoot the breeze with you, Mary.
See also: breeze, shoot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
shoot the breeze
Also, shoot or throw the bull . Talk idly, chat, as in They've been sitting on the porch for hours, just shooting the breeze, or The guys sit around the locker room, throwing the bull. The first of these slangy terms, alluding to talking into the wind, was first recorded in 1919. In the variant, first recorded in 1908, bull is a shortening of bullshit, and means "empty talk" or "lies."
See also: breeze, shoot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
shoot the breeze
AMERICAN, INFORMALIf you shoot the breeze, you talk with other people in an informal and friendly way. Goldie does what she likes doing best: shooting the breeze about life, love, and her bad reputation. He's very awkward on social occasions. If you're sitting around a big table in the members' dining room, he won't shoot the breeze like the rest of them. Note: The sense of `shoot' used here is the same as `shoot the rapids', suggesting riding or being carried along by the flow of a conversation.
See also: breeze, shoot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
shoot the breeze (or the bull)
have a casual conversation. North American informalSee also: breeze, shoot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
shoot the ˈbreeze
(also shoot the ˈbull/ˈshit taboo) (both American English, informal) talk in a friendly, informal way; chat: We sat around in the bar, shooting the breeze.See also: breeze, shoot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
shoot the breeze
tv. to chat casually and without purpose. We spent the entire afternoon just shooting the breeze.
See also: breeze, shoot
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
shoot the breeze
/bull Slang To spend time talking in an idle manner; talk idly.
See also: breeze, shoot
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- fan the breeze
- bat the breeze
- breeze
- shoot the bull
- shoot the bull, to
- shoot the crap
- cruise around in
- cruise around in (something)
- jaw about (someone or something)