gossip
[noun]
Synonyms:
- idle talk, blether, chinwag (Brit. informal), chitchat, hearsay, scandal, small talk, tittle-tattle
- busybody, chatterbox (informal), chatterer, gossipmonger, scandalmonger, tattler, telltale
[verb]
Synonyms:
- chat, blether, gabble, jaw (slang), prate, prattle, tattle

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Related Idioms: dish the dirt, spill the beans, tell idle tales, tell tales out of school
Related Words: account, chronicle, conversation, story, tale, babble, banter, chatter, prate, chat, prattle, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

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English Thesaurus: conversation, discussion, talk, chat, natter, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. gos‧sip¹ /ˈɡɒsəp, ˈɡɒsɪp $ ˈɡɑː-/ noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: godsibb 'godparent, close friend', from god 'god' + sibb 'relative']

1. [uncountable] information that is passed from one person to another about other people’s behaviour and private lives, often including unkind or untrue remarks
gossip about
Here’s an interesting piece of gossip about Mrs Smith.
What’s the latest gossip?
Do you want to hear some juicy gossip?
She had no time for idle gossip.
It was common gossip how he felt about her.
You miss a lot of office gossip when you have a day off work.
On Sundays all the men gather in the square to exchange local gossip.

2. [countable usually singular] a conversation in which you exchange information with someone about other people’s lives and things that have happened:
Phil’s in there, having a gossip with Maggie.

3. [countable] someone who likes talking about other people’s private lives – used to show disapproval:
Rick’s a terrible gossip.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. gossip² verb [intransitive]
to talk about other people’s behaviour and private lives, often including remarks that are unkind or untrue
gossip about
The whole town was gossiping about them.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

gossip
noun
I. rumours about other people
ADJ. latest | common It's common gossip in the office that she's about to leave her husband.
idle, malicious, salacious, silly
QUANT. bit, piece, titbit I heard an interesting bit of gossip yesterday.
VERB + GOSSIP spread Someone has been spreading malicious gossip about me.
exchange, swap | hear, listen to, pay attention to You shouldn't listen to idle gossip.
GOSSIP + VERB circulate, go around/round A piece of silly gossip was going round the school.
GOSSIP + NOUN column, columnist I saw it in the gossip column of the local newspaper.
PREP. ~ about a magazine full of gossip about famous people

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gossip
II. conversation about other people
ADJ. good
VERB + GOSSIP have
PREP. ~ about We had a good gossip about the boss.
~ with She's having a gossip with Maria.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gossip

the latest gossip
Annie usually has all the latest gossip.
juicy gossip (=interesting gossip)
He said that he had some especially juicy gossip to tell us.
hot gossip (=interesting gossip)
What’s the latest hot gossip going round at work then?
idle gossip (=gossip not based on facts)
She had no time for idle gossip.
common gossip (=gossip that everyone knows about)
Rumours about her affairs had become common gossip.
office gossip
He told her a few bits of office gossip which he though might interest her.
village gossip BrE:
She knew from village gossip how Harry had treated his first wife.
malicious gossip (=unkind gossip that is likely to upset someone)
Has someone been spreading malicious gossip?
a piece of gossip
I’ve got an interesting piece of gossip which might interest you.
be the subject of gossip (=be talked about)
His close friendship with Carol was the subject of gossip.
exchange gossip (=talk about other people and their private lives with someone)
They used to meet up and exchange gossip.
hear gossip
Have you heard the latest gossip about Steve?
listen to gossip
He was always willing to listen to gossip.
spread gossip
Someone’s been spreading gossip about Lucy and Ian.
gossip goes around (=it is told by one person to another)
It was a small village, and any gossip went around very quickly.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gossip
noun
BAD: She told me gossips about all her relations.
GOOD: She told me a lot of gossip about all her relations.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

conversation noun [uncountable and countable] an informal talk in which people exchange news, feelings, and thoughts:
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day.
Conversation wasn’t easy because of all the noise.
He overheard our conversation about the children.
discussion noun [uncountable and countable] a conversation about something important:
There was a lot of discussion about where the money was going to come from.
The two companies have been having discussions about a possible takeover.
talk noun [countable] a long conversation, especially about a problem or about what you plan to do:
We had a long talk about our relationship.
chat noun [countable] especially British English an informal friendly conversation:
I’ve just had a chat with Vinnie.
natter noun [singular] British English informal a conversation with a friend about unimportant things:
Mary and Jean were having a cup of tea and a natter.
gossip noun [singular, uncountable] conversations in which people talk about things they have heard, especially about other people’s private lives, which may well not be true:
She always enjoyed going to friends’ houses and having a gossip.
It’s all just gossip.
small talk noun [uncountable] polite friendly conversation about unimportant subjects, especially when you do not know someone very well and feel a little nervous:
We stood around making small talk about the weather.
banter noun [uncountable] friendly conversation in which people joke with each other and gently make fun of each other:
She enjoyed the friendly banter with her colleagues at the office.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

rumour British English, rumor American English noun [uncountable and countable] information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true:
The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.
The truth finally came out after months of rumour.
I've heard rumours about a ghost in the building.
speculation noun [uncountable] a situation in which a lot of people are talking about something that is happening, especially something that is happening in politics or public life, and trying to guess what the truth is:
There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium’s largest banks.
The report fuelled speculation (=caused more speculation) that he was about to resign.
His future as a player has been the subject of intense speculation.
gossip noun [uncountable] things that people say about what they think has happened in other people's private lives, which is usually not true :
She tells me all the latest gossip from the office.
The magazine was full of gossip about celebrities.
You shouldn't believe every piece of gossip you hear.
talk noun [uncountable] something that people talk about a lot but which is not official:
The government has dismissed talk of a military strike on the country.
There's been a lot of talk of him resigning.
hearsay noun [uncountable] something that you have heard from someone else, but cannot prove whether it is true or untrue – often used in legal contexts:
All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports.
hearsay evidence

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

talk to use words to communicate with someone about something:
I need to talk to you about your work.
She always enjoyed talking to Jim.
Can we talk?
speak to talk. Speak is a little more formal than talk. You often use it when saying that someone speaks in a particular way, or that you will speak to someone in order to try to get something done. You only use speak when saying that someone speaks a language:
He spoke with confidence and authority.
She was speaking quietly so she didn’t disturb anyone.
I’d like to speak to the manager.
Do you speak German?
go on/drone on/ramble to talk too much or for too long about something, in a way that makes people bored:
He went on about how great the team was.
I’d better stop rambling and let you get on with your work.
waffle /ˈwɒfəl $ ˈwɑː-/ British English disapproving informal to talk using a lot of words but without saying anything important:
I wish he would stop waffling and get to the point!
prattle on disapproving informal to talk continuously about silly and unimportant things:
She prattled on about her boyfriend for the entire journey.
What’s he prattling on about now?
have a conversation to talk to someone for a long time about everyday things:
She was having a conversation with one of her friends.
When I arrived, Joe and Jane were deep in conversation (=very involved in a conversation).
I can order food in a restaurant in French, but not have a conversation.
chat/have a chat informal to have a friendly informal conversation about things that are not very important:
The girls were chatting outside the house.
It’s been nice having a chat with you.
gossip to talk about other people’s private lives when they are not there, especially about things that you have heard, which are not completely true:
What are you two gossiping about?
visit with somebody American English informal to have a conversation with someone:
I visited with him last week.
converse formal to have a conversation with someone:
We met once and conversed briefly.
discuss to talk seriously about problems, ideas, or plans:
They met to discuss how the building should be designed.
She refuses to discuss the matter.
talk something over to discuss something with someone because it will affect them, especially someone close to you:
Before you accept the job, talk it over with your family.
You two need to sit down and talk things over.
debate to discuss a subject formally when you are trying to make a decision or solve a problem:
The issue will be debated on Tuesday.
The UN Security Council debated whether to impose sanctions.
have a talk
I must have a talk with Frank before I leave.
a long talk
I had a long talk with Nora this morning.
a little talk
I’m glad we’ve had this little talk.
a serious talk
Before she went to college, her father sat her down for a serious talk.
a quiet/private talk
She asked if she could have a private talk.
a good talk (=a long talk about important or interesting things)
She was upset, but we’ve had a good talk and things are okay now.
a nice talk
We all had lunch together and a nice talk.
have/hold talks
He called on the rebels to hold talks with the government.
enter into talks (=start having talks)
The Ambassador stated that France was prepared to enter into talks on the issue.
talks begin
Talks began in October and Venezuela said it expects an agreement to be signed soon.
talks continue/are underway
Talks will continue through the weekend.
talks break down/collapse (=stop because of disagreement)
Talks broke down today between the Russian and Japanese delegations.
talks resume/are resumed
Talks resumed in Geneva on April 19 after a month’s break.
talks end
The talks ended without a settlement being reached.
peace talks
All four Arab delegations walked out of the Middle East peace talks yesterday.
trade talks
Trade talks between the EU and the Americans have once again collapsed.
high-level talks (=involving important people)
The announcement came after a morning of high-level talks.
budget talks
The dollar fell as U.S. budget talks appeared unlikely to produce an agreement.
direct talks
The President declared that he was now prepared to enter into direct talks with the rebels.
bilateral talks (=involving two groups or countries)
Bilateral talks led to the resumption of diplomatic relations.
round-table talks (=when everyone can discuss things in an equal way)
An election law, agreed during round-table talks, gave every voter the right to two votes.
urgent talks
The Prime Minister called ministers together for urgent talks.
crisis talks (=talks to stop a situation getting worse or more dangerous)
The unions will hold crisis talks with the company in a bid to save jobs.
a round of talks (=a series of talks that is part of a longer process)
A third round of talks was held in May.
the breakdown/collapse of talks
The collapse of the talks sent shock waves round the world.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲