INDEX:
1. to talk about something with someone
2. to try to reach an agreement in politics or business
3. when something is discussed
4. when something can be discussed before a decision is made
5. a meeting where people discuss something
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ TALK
↑ ARGUE
↑ TELL
↑ OPINION
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1. to talk about something with someone
▷ discuss /dɪˈskʌs/ [transitive verb]
to talk about and exchange ideas about something in order to come to an agreement, understand it better, or to make plans :
▪ The two families got together to discuss the wedding arrangements.
▪ The report will be discussed at next week’s meeting.
discuss something with somebody
▪ Don’t make any plans yet - I want to discuss this with Jamie first.
discuss what/how/where etc
▪ We need to discuss what kind of food we want at the party.
▷ talk /tɔːk/ [intransitive verb]
▪ I think we need to talk.
talk about
▪ If you have a problem at school, sit down and talk about it with your parents.
talk to
▪ Gerry wants to talk to his girlfriend before he makes a decision.
talk with
American
▪ If you need more money you should talk with Richard.
▷ talk over /ˌtɔːk ˈəʊvəʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to talk to someone about all the details of a serious problem or difficult situation, in order to understand it better :
talk something/it over
▪ If you’re worried about your work, come and see me and we’ll talk it over.
talk over something
▪ The girls were talking over the events of the day.
talk something over with somebody
▪ It’s often useful to talk things over with a trained counsellor.
▷ debate /dɪˈbeɪt/ [transitive verb]
to discuss different possible choices of what to do before choosing the best one :
▪ We were debating the best way to reach the river, when a passing ranger kindly pointed it out.
debate where/what/whether etc
▪ We debated whether to fly or go by train, finally deciding on the train.
▪ They had already debated where to go on vacation, Yosemite or Lake Tahoe.
▷ kick around /ˌkɪk əˈraʊnd/ [transitive phrasal verb] informal
to discuss an idea with a group of people in order to decide whether it is good or not :
▪ These meetings are useful for kicking around preliminary ideas.
▪ Academics have been kicking around the idea for three decades.
▷ put your heads together /ˌpʊt jɔːʳ ˈhedz təˌgeðəʳ/ [verb phrase] informal
if two or more people put their heads together, they discuss something together in order to solve a problem :
▪ We’ll put our heads together after work and see if we can come up with a solution.
put your heads together to do something
▪ 150 government leaders are putting their heads together to discuss how to curb the production of greenhouse gases.
▷ have it out /ˌhæv ɪt ˈaʊt/ [verb phrase]
to settle a disagreement or difficult situation by talking to the person involved, especially when you are angry with them :
▪ We’ve had it out and I’ve told John exactly what I think.
have it out with
▪ I’ve a good mind to have it out with him here and now.
2. to try to reach an agreement in politics or business
▷ negotiate /nɪˈgəʊʃieɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to discuss a political problem or business arrangement in order to try to reach an agreement - use this especially about political or business leaders :
▪ If we corner him, he won’t negotiate.
negotiate with
▪ The government says it will not negotiate with terrorists.
negotiate an agreement/deal/price etc
▪ Colombia and Venezuela are currently negotiating a trade agreement.
▷ bargaining /ˈbɑːʳgɪnɪŋ, ˈbɑːʳgənɪŋ/ [uncountable noun]
a discussion in politics or business during which each group tries to gain for themselves as many advantages as possible but has to give something or do something in return :
▪ After much bargaining, we agreed to share the profits 50-50.
▪ Effective bargaining by their union has gained clothing workers a 9% pay rise.
▷ thrash out /ˌθræʃ ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to discuss the details of a problem or plan thoroughly and argue about them until an agreement is reached :
thrash out something
▪ Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a divorce settlement.
▪ Differences over EU policy were left to be thrashed out at a later date.
thrash it out
▪ If that’s going to cause you a problem, we’ll have to thrash it out before we get started.
▷ hammer out /ˌhæmər ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if two people or groups hammer out an agreement, plan etc, they reach agreement about it after discussing it and arguing about it a lot :
▪ Canada and the US have hammered out a final form for their trade agreement.
▪ Before an advertising strategy can be hammered out, the agency must understand the client’s true needs.
▷ debate /dɪˈbeɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to discuss a political or social problem publicly or officially, especially in a parliament or committee :
▪ The new law was debated in Parliament on 14 February.
▪ The government clearly refuses to give us an opportunity to debate any longer.
be hotly debated
to be discussed by a lot of people who have strong feelings
▪ Few areas of nutrition are more hotly debated than whether or not people should take vitamin supplements.
debate [uncountable noun]
▪ This matter has been the subject of intense public debate in recent weeks.
3. when something is discussed
▷ be discussed /biː dɪˈskʌst/ [verb phrase]
▪ The issues have been widely discussed, but so far no one has drawn any conclusions.
▪ Healthy eating is much discussed these days, and several books have been published on the subject.
be widely discussed
▪ Questions about how to raise children have been widely discussed.
▷ be under discussion /biː ˌʌndəʳ dɪˈskʌʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
if something such as a situation, plan, or proposal is under discussion, people are discussing it with the intention of deciding what to do about it :
▪ A proposal to reduce the size of the army has been under discussion for some time now.
▪ A title for the new book is still under discussion.
▷ be on the agenda /biː ɒn ði əˈdʒendə/ [verb phrase]
if something affecting the public or society is on the agenda, most people have heard of it and are talking about it :
▪ The recent riots have put the problem of unemployment back on the agenda.
be high on the agenda
▪ The prevention of ordinary crime has been high on the agenda for ten years.
4. when something can be discussed before a decision is made
▷ negotiable /nɪˈgəʊʃiəb ə l, -ʃə-/ [adjective]
an offer, price, agreement etc that is negotiable can be discussed and changed before being agreed on :
▪ We are looking for an experienced journalist to join the news team. The salary is negotiable.
▪ The offer is negotiable, so feel free to suggest changes.
▪ The contract is for a period of six months, and is not negotiable.
▷ be open to discussion/negotiation /biː ˌəʊpən tə dɪˈskʌʃ ə n, nɪˌgəʊʃiˈeɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
if something is open to discussion or negotiation, it has not yet been officially decided and you are allowed to discuss it and suggest changes :
▪ Which company gets the franchise is open to negotiation.
▪ My father’s orders were not open to discussion.
5. a meeting where people discuss something
▷ discussion /dɪˈskʌʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when people talk about and exchange ideas about something, especially in order to make a decision :
▪ The committee, after much discussion, had decided to go ahead with the proposal to ban cigarette advertising.
discussion about
▪ Most people find honest discussions about sex a little awkward.
discussion with
▪ After a long discussion with her father, she decided not to take the job.
▷ negotiations /nɪˌgəʊʃiˈeɪʃ ə nz/ [plural noun]
when people who represent governments, companies, workers’ groups etc meet to discuss a problem or business arrangement and try to reach an agreement :
▪ The trade negotiations between the US and Japan are going very well.
negotiations with
▪ Negotiations with the Turkish government are due to begin tomorrow.
▷ talks /tɔːks/ [plural noun]
a series of discussions between political or business leaders, which may continue for several days or weeks and are intended to solve a difficult problem :
▪ the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, known as ‘SALT’
hold talks
▪ The peace talks are being held in Geneva.
talks with
▪ The company’s managers have begun talks with union leaders.
be in talks
▪ Russia’s main diamond producer has also been in talks with the mining company.
peace/trade talks
▪ a tough negotiator in international trade talks
▷ debate /dɪˈbeɪt/ [countable noun]
a formal public discussion, for example in parliament or on television, in which two or more groups of people make speeches giving different opinions about a subject, and people vote on it afterwards :
▪ The law was passed, after a long and sometimes angry debate.
debate on/about
▪ There will be a televised debate between those in favour of military action and those who are against.
▷ forum /ˈfɔːrəm/ [countable noun]
an organization, meeting, or television programme where people have a chance to discuss an important subject in public :
forum for
▪ The association began as a forum for sharing ideas about management problems.
forum to do something
▪ I want a forum to address the most serious problem facing the people of this state.