talking shop

talk shop

1. verb To discuss one's trade or job in depth, especially with someone who is in the same profession. Jane and I got to talking shop about her new quilting business. My husband is a teacher, and whenever he gets together with his coworkers, they do nothing but talk shop the whole time.
2. noun A group or gathering that spends more time, effort, and resources on discussing policy or possible actions than actually doing anything meaningful. People have criticized the summit as a mere talk shop, since it is not legally binding for the countries that participate in it.
See also: shop, talk

talking shop

A group or organization that spends far more time, effort, and resources on discussing policy or possible actions than actually doing anything meaningful. Primarily heard in UK. People have long criticised these inquiries as being nothing but talking shops, since their recommendations have no legal authority. To be honest, I think a talking shop is what we need at the moment—a chance for these groups to discuss their positions in person, rather than behind the poisonous anonymity of social media.
See also: shop, talk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a talking shop

mainly BRITISH or

a talk shop

AMERICAN
COMMON If you describe an organization or a meeting as a talking shop, you mean it is not effective as its discussions have no practical results. Governments which used to dismiss the UN as a mere `talking shop' now see possibilities for the international body to act more as a world policeman. The Royal Society already had a reputation for being a mere talking shop. The committee is basically just a talk shop.
See also: shop, talk
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • talk shop
  • dog
  • dogg
  • dogs
  • drop
  • drop someone
  • dropped
  • check out
  • check out, to
  • checkout
References in periodicals archive
Send your World Cup anecdotes to: Jim Cremin, Talking Shop, Racing Post,
Talking Shop: Your chance to win Man Utd tickets
The renovation of Butetown and other disadvantaged areas and the building of the children's hospital should have had a far higher priority than a new talking shop.
Viewpointspounds 70m could have gone elsewhere
"Not only will the assembly be a talking shop, but as this analysis shows, a puppet for the Government of the day.
Debate over regional power hots up
Mr Bradbourn, the Conservative spokesman on regional policy in the European Parliament, said: "A regional assembly would be an expensive talking shop, which would take powers away from local councils and shift power to a remote regional body."
Regional debate takes to streets
``Reading between the lines there's little in the white paper that's encouraging and which suggests a regional assembly will be anything other than a costly talking shop.''
CBI chief rejects regional parliament
I WAS fortunate enough to win the 'Box for 20' competition which Talking Shop and Craigie Taylor - the PR agency for United Racecourses - organised recently.
First Class Day Out; William Hill manager Chris Day says thank-you to Kempton
This must not be a talking shop when the situation requires bold, decisive action.
Stop US aid; VOICE OF THE voice@mirror.co.uk
More importantly judge the quality of the debaters we have elected as our political representatives to this present talking shop.
See AMs at work; COMMENT & DEBATE: YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
Us Scots also now know we are a nation with our own government, not just a talking shop for Westminster.
Letter: Your view - Word perfect
Tory Assembly leader Nick Bourne said: "Rhodri Morgan wants government by talking shop. He is a world-beater when it comes to creating endless streams of bureaucracy
Quango claims refuted
If they put more finances into hospitals instead of wasting pounds 60m on a hot-air talking shop, there wouldn't be any problems.
Stay at UHW was excellent
Another layer of bureaucracy means a further increase in the council tax to fund an organisation with virtually no powers and which will be not much more than a very expensive "talking shop".
Dozen's enough
THE Queen was today opening Parliament - not at Westminster but in Birmingham, where children have their own talking shop.
Brummie debate for the Queen
WILLIAM HILL have followed up their triumph in the Racing Post/SIS Manager of the Year by winning Talking Shop's 'Box for 20' competition.
Talking Shop: Hills team cracks christmas box
Piecing together Jones' statements and other public statements from S4C we now know with certainty, and for the record, that: * S4C's new media forum is no more than a talking shop with no executive commissioning power, influence or budget.
S4C's talking shop; COMMENT & DEBATE