to get a word in edgeways: meaning and explanation

to get a word in edgeways = to have an opportunity to speak or contribute to a discussion.

This idiom is almost always used in a negative way, to describe situations in which it is hard or impossible to speak because someone else is dominating the conversation. Because they speak so much or so constantly, it is difficult or impossible for others to speak or contribute. e.g. I wanted to ask a question but it was just impossible to get a word in edgeways.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Listening exercises

Micro-listening #1

Accent: Ireland

– .
It’s be in him – it’s get a .
It’s frustrating to be in meeting with him – it’s to get a word in .

Micro-listening #2

Accent: Australia

, .
I them some pitch, couldn’t edgeways.
I to give them some on their pitch, I couldn’t get a in edgeways.

About the sentence

…feedback on their pitch…

A pitch is a speech or presentation with which you are attempting to convince someone to purchase or invest in something. e.g. I listened to his pitch but I wasn’t very impressed.

We can also use this as a verb, to pitch something to someone, e.g. I pitched my idea to her and she seemed very keen to find out more.

Micro-listening #3

Accent: Scotland

. .
his contribution . It a bit hard to sometimes.
We value his contribution discussions. It just be a bit hard to a word in sometimes.

Photo by Guzmán Barquín on Unsplash

Business English, Idioms