Idiom
have a chinwag
Meanings
to have an informal, friendly conversation
Definition
To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
If you have a chinwag, you talk informally with someone, usually for pleasure rather than for business. It suggests a friendly, easy conversation that may last a little while. This idiom is especially common in British English and often sounds casual and conversational.
Examples
- We had a chinwag after work and lost track of time.
- Come in and have a chinwag before you head home.
- I bumped into my neighbour and we had a chinwag about the garden.
- Let’s have a chinwag later and catch up properly.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use it in formal writing or business contexts, but it sounds best in casual, informal British English.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.
- get down to brass tacks To get down to brass tacks means to start talking about the most important, practical details of so…