small-talk

See also: smalltalk, Smalltalk, small talk, and Small Talk

English

Noun

small-talk (uncountable)

1. Alternative spelling of small talk
   • 1864 October, [Annie Edwards], “The Ordeal of Wives. A Story of London Life.”, in London Society. An Illustrated Magazine of Light and Amusing Literature for the Hours of Relaxation., volume VI, number XXXV, London: Office, […], chapter XXXVII (Diamonds Win), page 374, column 1:

     He took Miss Lynes to supper; he outshone himself in vacuitous small-talk during the whole time that the meal lasted; he held undisputed possession of her during that hour especially dear to flirtation, between the time when supper ended and the departure of the guests.

   • 1871, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter III, in Middlemarch […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book I, page 48:

     Mr Casaubon seemed even unconscious that trivialities existed, and never handed round that small-talk of heavy men which is as acceptable as stale bride-cake brought forth with an odour of cupboard.

   • 1984, Amanda Prantera, Strange Loop, New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton, Inc., →ISBN, page 75:

     Agreement even seemed to cheer him up, and from there our discussion began to take on a more relaxed and customary shape and to gravitate towards our usual oxymorous small-talk on large topics.