talk round

persuade someone to change their mind and agree with you

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What does "talk sb round" mean?

To talk someone round means to persuade them to change their mind, usually when they were initially reluctant or opposed to an idea. The persuasion happens through conversation — you use words, arguments, and discussion to gradually shift someone's position. The phrase almost always implies that some effort was involved; it is not used for quick or easy agreement. It is predominantly British English, and the person being persuaded is always named as the object. A common extension is to add 'to' followed by a noun or gerund to specify what they were persuaded to accept, as in 'talked him round to the idea' or 'talked her round to agreeing'.

Examples

How to use it

talk + object + round

The most common structure, with the person being persuaded placed between 'talk' and 'round'.

It took several conversations, but she finally talked the client round.

talk + pronoun + round

When the object is a pronoun, separation is obligatory — the pronoun must go between 'talk' and 'round'.

He was sceptical at first, but I managed to talk him round.

talk + object + round + to + noun/gerund

Use 'to' followed by a noun or gerund after 'round' to specify what the person was persuaded to accept.

After a long discussion, they talked the board round to accepting the new strategy.

be talked round

The passive form is natural when the focus is on the person who was persuaded rather than on who persuaded them.

She was resistant for weeks, but she was eventually talked round.

manage/try + to + talk + object + round

Infinitive constructions with verbs like 'manage' or 'try' are very common and reflect the effort that persuasion typically requires.

Do you think you can manage to talk the committee round before Thursday's vote?

Common Collocations

talk someone round to an ideatalk the board roundtalk my parents roundeventually talk roundmanage to talk roundtalk a colleague round

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placed after 'round'

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'talk' and 'round'. Placing it after 'round' is ungrammatical in this sense.

✗ I tried to talk round her, but she refused to listen.
✓ I tried to talk her round, but she refused to listen.
Confusing 'talk round someone' with 'talk round a subject'

When the object is a person, 'talk round' means to persuade them. When the object is a topic or issue, 'talk round' (or 'talk around') means to avoid discussing it directly. Make sure the object is the person being persuaded, not the subject under discussion.

✗ He spent the whole meeting talking round the proposal instead of convincing his colleagues.
✓ He spent the whole meeting talking his colleagues round to the proposal.
Using 'talk round' in American English contexts

'Talk round' in this persuasion sense is predominantly British English. In American English, 'talk someone into something' or 'bring someone around' would be the more natural choices.

Usage

This phrasal verb is mainly British English; American speakers would more often say 'talk someone into something' or 'bring someone around'. It usually implies the person was resistant at first and that persuasion took some effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'talk round' only used in British English?

Yes, this sense of 'talk round' is predominantly British English. American English speakers would typically say 'talk someone into something' or 'bring someone around' to express the same idea. If you are writing for or speaking to an American audience, those alternatives would sound more natural.

Does 'talk round' always mean someone was resistant at first?

Almost always, yes. The phrase carries a strong implication that the person had to overcome initial reluctance or opposition — it is rarely used when someone agreed easily or quickly. Adverbs like 'eventually' and 'finally' appear very frequently with this verb precisely because persuasion took time and effort.

Can I use 'talk round' in the present continuous, like 'I am talking him round'?

It sounds slightly awkward in most contexts. The present continuous can work if you want to describe an ongoing, in-progress persuasion attempt — for example, 'I'm slowly talking him round' — but it is not the most natural choice. Past simple, present perfect, and infinitive constructions after 'manage to' or 'try to' feel much more idiomatic.

What kinds of people or groups can you 'talk round'?

The verb works with any human object where initial resistance is plausible — individuals like a colleague, partner, or parent, or groups like a board, committee, or panel of investors. It does not take abstract objects; you talk a person round, not a situation or idea.

How is 'talk round' different from 'bring round' when both mean persuade?

'Bring round' is a close synonym, but 'talk round' specifically highlights that the persuasion was achieved through talking and discussion. 'Bring round' can suggest a slightly more general shift in attitude, whereas 'talk round' always points to conversation as the means of persuasion.

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