get a word in edgewise

Idioms and Phrases

Also, get a word in edgeways . Insert oneself into a conversation or express one's opinion despite competition from other speakers. For example, So many people had questions for the lecturer that it was hard to get a word in edgewise , or Nancy loves to talk, and I couldn't get a word in edgeways . This idiom, often put in the negative, transfers an object with its edge foremost to inserting conversation. [Late 1700s]