Collocations for conversation - noun
ADJECTIVE
brief,
short
lengthy, long
We engaged in a long conversation.
lengthy, long
We engaged in a long conversation.
endless,
pointless
We had to listen to endless conversations about high prices and food shortages.
We had to listen to endless conversations about high prices and food shortages.
everyday,
general,
normal,
ordinary
casual, idle, informal
It's not a subject that often crops up in casual conversation.
casual, idle, informal
It's not a subject that often crops up in casual conversation.
intimate,
personal,
private
face-to-face, one-on-one (AmE)
The two of you need to have a face-to-face conversation.
face-to-face, one-on-one (AmE)
The two of you need to have a face-to-face conversation.
one-sided,
two-way
Think of prayer as a two-way conversation.
Think of prayer as a two-way conversation.
phone,
telephone
overheard, recorded, taped
civilized, polite
We sat making polite conversation and feeling rather uncomfortable.
overheard, recorded, taped
civilized, polite
We sat making polite conversation and feeling rather uncomfortable.
friendly,
pleasant
animated, lively
heated
fascinating, good, intelligent, interesting, stimulating
He said that television had been the death of good conversation.
animated, lively
heated
fascinating, good, intelligent, interesting, stimulating
He said that television had been the death of good conversation.
candid,
honest
deep, in-depth, meaningful, proper, real, serious
There was no time for a proper conversation.
deep, in-depth, meaningful, proper, real, serious
There was no time for a proper conversation.
simple
When you are struggling with an unfamiliar language, the simplest conversations can be misinterpreted.
When you are struggling with an unfamiliar language, the simplest conversations can be misinterpreted.
strange
chance
A chance conversation led to a brilliant new career for the young student.
chance
A chance conversation led to a brilliant new career for the young student.
awkward,
desultory,
halting,
stilted
We carried on a rather awkward conversation.
We carried on a rather awkward conversation.
hushed,
murmured,
quiet,
whispered
ongoing (esp. AmE)
There is an ongoing conversation in society about how we raise our children.
ongoing (esp. AmE)
There is an ongoing conversation in society about how we raise our children.
imaginary
after-dinner, dinner
adult
Young children become quickly bored by adult conversation.
after-dinner, dinner
adult
Young children become quickly bored by adult conversation.
water-cooler
(AmE)
The book became an instant best-seller and topic of water-cooler conversation (= a popular subject for discussion, for example between people who work together).
The book became an instant best-seller and topic of water-cooler conversation (= a popular subject for discussion, for example between people who work together).
VERB + conversation
carry on,
have,
hold,
make
You can't hold a private conversation there.
I tried to make conversation with the three people around the table.
You can't hold a private conversation there.
I tried to make conversation with the three people around the table.
begin,
initiate,
open,
spark,
start,
strike up
He was waiting for her to open the conversation.
He was waiting for her to open the conversation.
draw sb into,
engage sb in
When I tried to engage him in conversation, she always interrupted.
When I tried to engage him in conversation, she always interrupted.
fall into,
get into
I got into conversation with one of the directors. (BrE)
I got into a conversation with Chris about UFOs. (AmE)
I got into conversation with one of the directors. (BrE)
I got into a conversation with Chris about UFOs. (AmE)
be deep in,
be engaged in
They were deep in conversation and didn't notice the time.
They were deep in conversation and didn't notice the time.
continue,
keep up
Cara kept up a one-sided conversation.
Cara kept up a one-sided conversation.
control,
dominate
bring around, bring round (esp. BrE), steer, turn
I managed to bring the conversation around to why they were leaving.
He tried to steer the conversation away from the topic of money.
She turned the conversation to her work.
bring around, bring round (esp. BrE), steer, turn
I managed to bring the conversation around to why they were leaving.
He tried to steer the conversation away from the topic of money.
She turned the conversation to her work.
enter,
join,
join in
break off
conclude, end, finish
avoid
She avoided conversation with the other passengers.
break off
conclude, end, finish
avoid
She avoided conversation with the other passengers.
encourage
I was courteous but didn't encourage conversation.
I was courteous but didn't encourage conversation.
hear,
listen to,
overhear
record, tape
Police taped the conversation.
record, tape
Police taped the conversation.
break into,
interrupt
resume
recall, remember
I recall a conversation in which he told me he would never leave Paris.
resume
recall, remember
I recall a conversation in which he told me he would never leave Paris.
conversation + VERB
occur,
take place
When did this conversation take place?
When did this conversation take place?
continue,
proceed
The conversation proceeded in French.
The conversation proceeded in French.
flow
They all relaxed and conversation flowed freely.
They all relaxed and conversation flowed freely.
come around to sth,
come round to sth (esp. BrE),
drift,
move on (to sth),
switch,
turn to sth,
veer back to sth,
veer off sth
The conversation drifted away from babies.
The conversation moved on to other things.
The conversation turned to football.
The conversation drifted away from babies.
The conversation moved on to other things.
The conversation turned to football.
revolve around
cease, end, stop
All conversation ceased and everyone turned around.
The conversation ended when the vacuum cleaner started up.
cease, end, stop
All conversation ceased and everyone turned around.
The conversation ended when the vacuum cleaner started up.
die,
die away,
die down
dry up (BrE), run dry (esp. AmE)
All too soon the stilted conversation ran dry.
dry up (BrE), run dry (esp. AmE)
All too soon the stilted conversation ran dry.
PREPOSITION
during conversation
In the Western world it is polite to maintain eye contact during conversation.
In the Western world it is polite to maintain eye contact during conversation.
in conversation with
In tonight's show we hear Chris Toole in conversation with the artist Mary Withers.
In tonight's show we hear Chris Toole in conversation with the artist Mary Withers.
conversation about
We had a long conversation about old cars.
We had a long conversation about old cars.
conversation between
a conversation between Jane and her parents
a conversation between Jane and her parents
conversation on
a conversation on the topic of activities for children
a conversation on the topic of activities for children
conversation with
I had an interesting conversation with Dick Wortley.
I had an interesting conversation with Dick Wortley.
PHRASES
an attempt at conversation
She ignored all my attempts at conversation.
She ignored all my attempts at conversation.
be in … conversation (with sb)
Don was in close conversation with the girl on his right.
Don was in close conversation with the girl on his right.
a buzz of conversation,
a hum of conversation
She could hear him over the buzz of conversation and laughter.
She could hear him over the buzz of conversation and laughter.
during the course of (the) conversation
During the course of conversation, it emerged that Sheila had lived in Nigeria.
During the course of conversation, it emerged that Sheila had lived in Nigeria.
keep the conversation going
Our hostess did her best to keep the conversation going.
Our hostess did her best to keep the conversation going.
a lull in the conversation
a topic of conversation
The main topic of conversation was the war.
a topic of conversation
The main topic of conversation was the war.