Phrase guide

get a word in edgewise

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɡɛt ə ˈwɜːd ɪn ˈɛdʒwaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌɡɛt ə ˈwɝd ɪn ˈɛdʒwaɪz/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To break into or participate in a conversation, especially where there is much interruption by other speakers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, derogatory, usually

Examples

  • Everyone was talking at once. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: բառ մեջ գցել (baṙ meǰ gcʻel) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Armenian: խոսք մեջ գցել (xoskʻ meǰ gcʻel) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 插嘴 (chāzuǐ) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 插話 /插话 (chāhuà) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 插口 (chākǒu) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Dutch: een speld tussen krijgen — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Finnish: saada mitään sanotuksi — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Finnish: saada sanomansa läpi — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • French: en placer une — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • German: ins Wort fallen — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Italian: controbattere — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Italian: profferire parola — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Italian: infilare una parola — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Japanese: 口を挟む (kuchi o hasamu) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Polish: dochodzić do głosu — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Polish: dojść do głosu — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Portuguese: entrar no papo — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Russian: вста́вить сло́во (vstávitʹ slóvo) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Russian: вкли́ниться (vklínitʹsja) — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Spanish: meter baza — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Swedish: få en syl i vädret — to break into or participate in a conversation
  • Vietnamese: nói chen vào — to break into or participate in a conversation