talk into

persuade someone to do something they did not want to do

B2

What does "talk sb into sth" mean?

To talk someone into something means to persuade them to do it, even though they were reluctant or didn't want to at first. The key idea is that the person needed convincing — they didn't simply agree straightaway. This makes 'talk into' slightly stronger than just saying 'persuade', because it implies you had to work at it and overcome some resistance. You'll hear it constantly in everyday conversation and casual writing, often with a hint of surprise that it actually worked. It can even be used reflexively, as in talking yourself into believing something you weren't sure about.

Examples

How to use it

talk + person + into + verb-ing

This is the core structure — the person must always come between 'talk' and 'into', and the action after 'into' must be a gerund (-ing form).

My colleague talked me into applying for the promotion, even though I was nervous about it.

talk + pronoun + into + it

When the action is already clear from context, you can replace the gerund with 'it' for a more natural, conversational feel.

I really didn't want to go to the party, but she talked me into it.

be talked into + verb-ing

The passive is common when the focus is on the person who was persuaded rather than the person doing the persuading.

He was talked into signing the contract before he had a chance to read it properly.

talk + reflexive pronoun + into + verb-ing

You can use this pattern when someone persuades themselves to do something they were uncertain about.

She talked herself into believing the plan would work, despite her doubts.

Common Collocations

talk someone into goingtalk someone into buyingtalk someone into tryingtalk someone into stayingtalk someone into signing uptalk someone into doing it

Common Mistakes

Infinitive instead of gerund after 'into'

After 'into', you must always use the -ing form of the verb, not 'to + infinitive'. This is the most common error learners make with this phrasal verb.

✗ They talked him into to accept the deal.
✓ They talked him into accepting the deal.
Missing the person object

The person being persuaded must always appear between 'talk' and 'into' — you cannot skip it and connect 'talk' directly to 'into'.

✗ She talked into going to the concert.
✓ She talked her friend into going to the concert.
Mixing up 'talk into' and 'talk out of'

'Talk into' means persuading someone to do something, while 'talk out of' means persuading them not to do it — they are opposites, so using the wrong one completely reverses your meaning.

✗ My mum talked me into quitting the course. (if you mean she stopped you from quitting)
✓ My mum talked me out of quitting the course.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral to informal and works well in both spoken and written everyday English. It often implies the person was reluctant at first, making it slightly stronger than just 'persuade'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'talk into' always mean the person didn't want to do it at first?

Almost always, yes. 'Talk into' carries a strong implication that the person was reluctant or hesitant before being persuaded. If someone agreed easily or enthusiastically from the start, it would sound more natural to use 'persuade' or 'convince' instead.

Can 'talk into' be used in the passive?

Yes, and it's very natural. You might say 'I was talked into it' when you want to focus on yourself as the person who was persuaded, rather than on who did the persuading. The gerund after 'into' stays in place: 'She was talked into taking the job.'

Can I use 'talk into' when there's no specific person doing the persuading?

Yes — the passive construction is useful here. You can say 'I was talked into going' without mentioning who persuaded you, which is common when the speaker is slightly embarrassed or vague about the situation.

Is 'talk into' suitable for formal writing?

It's best avoided in formal or academic contexts. In a business report or formal email, 'persuade' or 'convince' would be more appropriate. 'Talk into' fits well in casual emails, storytelling, and everyday conversation.

Can I say 'I'm talking him into going' using the present continuous?

This sounds a little unnatural because persuasion is usually described as a completed result rather than an ongoing action. It's much more common to use the simple past ('I talked him into going') or present perfect ('I've talked him into going') to show the persuasion was successful.

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