"elevator talk" means: brief, polite, superficial conversation, like that which occurs in elevators.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
elevator talk
(US) brief, polite, superficial conversation, like that which occurs in elevators.
Definitions
(US) brief, polite, superficial conversation, like that which occurs in elevators.
"elevator talk" means: brief, polite, superficial conversation, like that which occurs in elevators.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"elevator talk" means: brief, polite, superficial conversation, like that which occurs in elevators.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "elevator talk" (E)
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Related terms
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Semantically related
- elevator67%
Anything that raises or uplifts.
- hellevator66%
(slang) A scary elevator; an elevator that takes one to a frightening location.
- hellevator65%
(slang, uncommon) An elevator that is poorly-maintained, dangerous or claustrophobic.
- one's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top63%
(US, humorous) Used as an indirect way to state that someone is mentally deficient.
- talk at61%
To speak with (someone) without truly listening to their response or interacting meaningfully.