talk turkey

1. To discuss in a straightforward manner: “The time has come to talk turkey about our national debt.”

Idioms and Phrases

Speak plainly, get to the point, as in Don't call me until you're ready to talk turkey . This expression allegedly comes from a tale about an Indian and a white man who hunted together and divided the game. When the white man said, “I'll take the turkey and you the buzzard, or you take the buzzard and I the turkey,” the Indian replied, “Talk turkey to me.” Whether or not this tale had a true basis, the term was recorded in its present meaning by about 1840.

Example Sentences

"I think Terry is facing his own mortality, and I think when people are reaching that point in their life, they cut through the pleasantries and talk turkey," he said.

From BBC

“But we didn’t get far enough to be talking turkey with any bowls or conferences about the actual format.”

From Seattle Times

And what about "talk turkey"? Well, that can mean quite contradictory things.

From Salon

They’re talking turkey in the one-off culinary competition “Battle for the Bird.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said the meeting had provided the "crucial moment" for the two leaders to sit in a room, without their staff present, "talking turkey" until they found a way they could move forward.

From BBC