Talk turkey

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Meaning

To speak frankly or get down to business, cutting through fluff.

Origin

From 19th-century America, possibly tied to settlers trading turkeys with Native Native American trade; slang by 1824 for straight talk. A 1835 tale uses it for a hunt's barter. Some link it to a yarn of a swindled turkey split, but trade won, growing into a meaty idiom of candor in a haggle age.

Variants

  • Talk the turkey

Usage Examples

  • Let's talk turkey; how much for the car?
  • She talked turkey and got the raise.
  • Time to talk turkey; no more excuses.

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