talk around
phrasal verb
talked around; talking around; talks around
1
: to avoid talking about (a particular subject) especially because it is difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing
They've been talking around the real issue rather than addressing it directly.
2
: to cause (someone) to accept and support something (such as an idea) after opposing it
She says she doesn't agree with it, but we'll talk her around eventually.
—often + toWe can talk her around to our way of thinking.
Examples of talk around in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This may result in taboo-like talks around money, intimacy or boundaries.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Trump, in an interview with Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on the debut episode of his series The Sunday Briefing, was asked about the pending deal talks around TikTok, which is currently controlled by the Chinese tech giant ByteDance.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025
Also, compare how Apple talks around the Air’s battery life.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
When Ten Hag first arrived at United, there was plenty of talk around his brilliant Ajax team of 2018-19, which reached the Champions League semi-final and beat Real Madrid and Juventus on the way.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Macon Blair clarifies the talk around a more risqué scene that leaked online.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Like customer-service bots, or H.R. directors, checkers and writers talk around things.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
But all the talk around the Browns after their first preseason game last week was about Sanders, as he was named the starter by head coach Kevin Stefanski and played well into the third quarter.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Trump has also jabbed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including on Monday after Zelensky pushed back on talks around a territory swap, sparking worries from European officials who fear Trump could cut a bad deal for Kyiv.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Trump, in an interview with Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on the debut episode of his series The Sunday Briefing, was asked about the pending deal talks around TikTok, which is currently controlled by the Chinese tech giant ByteDance.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025
Also, compare how Apple talks around the Air’s battery life.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
When Ten Hag first arrived at United, there was plenty of talk around his brilliant Ajax team of 2018-19, which reached the Champions League semi-final and beat Real Madrid and Juventus on the way.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Macon Blair clarifies the talk around a more risqué scene that leaked online.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Like customer-service bots, or H.R. directors, checkers and writers talk around things.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
But all the talk around the Browns after their first preseason game last week was about Sanders, as he was named the starter by head coach Kevin Stefanski and played well into the third quarter.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Trump has also jabbed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including on Monday after Zelensky pushed back on talks around a territory swap, sparking worries from European officials who fear Trump could cut a bad deal for Kyiv.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Talk around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talk%20around. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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