What does 'small talk' mean? - YouTube

Feifei: Hello. This is The English

We Speak. This is Rob...

Rob: And this is Feifei. So, Feifei,

how did the blind date go?

Feifei: Not great - a disaster in fact.

Rob: Oh no. Why didn't you just

follow my advice?

Feifei: I did! Wear something nice,

turn up late and make small talk.

Rob: Yes, make small talk. Exactly.

Feifei: Well, when I started making small

talk, the guy looked at me in a strange

way and then walked off.

Rob: Oh no. What did you say?

Feifei: Things like 'hi', 'good', 'yes', 'no',

'great' - small words.

Rob: But no sentences? I think you've got

the wrong end of the stick here - I mean

you've misunderstood - making small talk

means making informal conversation

about unimportant things.

If you're meeting someone

for the first time, it's a good way

to make them feel relaxed

- you know, break the ice.

Feifei: Right! Make 'small' conversation.

Rob: I guess we should hear

some examples...

I didn't know anybody at my

cousin's wedding so I tried

to make small talk with the guests.

I'm shy and not very good at small talk.

That's why I hate going to parties.

At the office party, we all had to stand

around making small talk, but all I really

wanted to do was go home!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English. And we're learning

about the expression 'small talk' - that's

informal conversation which is meant

to make people feel more relaxed

and stops any embarrassing silence.

Actually, Rob, I do know about

small talk. It's just that...

Rob: So, why didn't you say?

Feifei: Well, I was going to tell you that...

Rob: You'll never get a boyfriend

if you don't speak up, Feifei!

You really need to talk more.

Feifei: Rob.

Rob: Yes?

Feifei: What I was trying to say was, I did

not have time for small talk because my date

would not stop talking. He was rude,

arrogant and wouldn't let me

get a word in edgeways!

Now, who does that remind me of?!

Rob: Err... Nice weather for the

time of year, don't you think?

Feifei: It's a bit late for small talk now,

Rob. You've said far too much.

Rob: Oh.

Feifei: Bye bye!

Rob: Bye!