conversation piece

noun

1. any object that arouses comment because of some striking or unusual quality.
2. group portraiture representing more or less fashionable people either in an interior or landscape setting.
3. a play that relies for its effect mainly on the cleverness of its dialogue rather than on plot or action.

conversation piece

noun

1. something, esp an unusual object, that provokes conversation
2. (esp in 18th-century Britain) a group portrait in a landscape or domestic setting
3. a play emphasizing dialogue

Word History and Origins

Origin of conversation piece¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Idioms and Phrases

An unusual object that arouses comment or interest, as in That bust of Aunt Nettie is ugly but it's an excellent conversation piece . In the early 1700s this same term was used for a particular kind of painting that represented a group, often a family, arranged as though they were conversing with one another. Later in the century the term was extended to any object that stimulates conversation.

Example Sentences

So perhaps in an effort to keep viewers interested at halftime, O’Neal pulled out quite the conversation piece.

From Los Angeles Times

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when searching for that perfect conversation piece for your space.

From Seattle Times

"They can be a real conversation piece and often people have tattoos that tell stories, as mine do," she said.

From BBC

From 10-year-old Tyler cosplayers, to crafty homemade conversation pieces, to gorpcore enthusiasts in the name of “camp” — Camp Flog Gnaw saw it all in terms of style.

From Los Angeles Times

But Ms. Meyer, 62, who meant to use the skull only as a “conversation piece” and did not really want to part with it, put a “really high price on it,” $4,000.

From New York Times

Related Words

• abnormality
• anomaly
• characteristic
• curiosity
• idiosyncrasy
• incongruity
• irregularity
• peculiarity
• phenomenon
• quirk
• rarity