talk turkey

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

talk turkey (third-person singular simple present talks turkey, present participle talking turkey, simple past and past participle talked turkey)

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic) To talk or negotiate plainly, frankly, or seriously.
   • 1881 December 13, “The Erie to ‘Talk Turkey’”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Oct. 2008, page 8:

     An Erie car loaded with live turkeys . . . was delivered to the New-York and New-England Railroad yesterday. . . . This first cargo is symbolical of the fact that they will be able hereafter to "talk turkey" to all competitors for New-England business.

   • 1918, Peter B. Kyne, chapter 19, in The Valley of the Giants:

     I'm here to talk turkey. What's your price?

   • 2005 July 13, “Opinion: Korean advance”, in International Herald Tribune, retrieved 21 Oct. 2008:

     This will mean talking turkey about the timing of steps for each side to take, and verification measures.

Synonyms

• get to the point