get a word in edgewise
/ˌɡɛt ə ˈwɝd ɪn ˈɛdʒwaɪz/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.06 in modern English
28
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
2
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To break into or participate in a conversation, especially where there is much interruption by other speakers.
American usage; Derogatory
Example Sentences
- "Everyone was talking at once. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise."
- "The converſation at breakfaſt began on reading, which ſhe ſaid ſhe was extremely fond of, and Joſeph, her ladyſhip, and my papa, fell into ſuch a deep diſcourſe, that I verily thought they would never have finiſhed; for, believe me, I was quite out of patience, as neither mama nor I, could ſo much as put a ſingle word in edgewiſe; for they might as well have talked Greek to us, and we ſhould have underſtood them much the ſame."
- "Accordingly she was exceedingly elevated; alternately singing pieces of hymns in a hobbling broken voice, having lost her teeth, breaking out into incoherent exclamations, and relating parts of her experience; while I had not room, which indeed I did not much require, to get a word in edgewise."
- "The baggage-camel had been bobbing his head to and from for some time past, anxious to get a word in edgeways."
- "We help him push his Nash down the street, then drink awhile and talk with Evelyn a beautiful blonde woman that young Ron Blake wants and even Dave Wain wants but she's got her mind on other things and taking care of the children who have to go to school and dancing classes in the morning and hardly gets a word in edgewise anyway as we all yak and yell like fools to impress her tho all she really wants is to be alone with me to talk about Cody and his latest soul."
- "From the women who write to her, Cokie Roberts has observed, "I get the feeling that the country is full of women who've never gotten a word in edgewise when the men talk politics.""
Etymology
The use of the word edgewise or edgeways (“with the edge facing in the direction of movement”) is metaphorical, suggesting that the gap or opportunity for a person to speak is very slim.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌɡɛt ə ˈwɝd ɪn ˈɛdʒwaɪz/
- British English: /ˌɡɛt ə ˈwɜːd ɪn ˈɛdʒwaɪz/
Usage
- American usage
- Derogatory