Preview（腕試し）

Junko: Did you enjoy talking with Natsuko at lunch?

Reiko: Are you kidding? She talked so much that I was not able to get a word in edgewise!

　

A. Reiko enjoyed her conversation with Natsuko.

B. Reiko talked a lot with Natsuko.

C. Reiko talked a lot because Natsuko is shy.

D. Reiko wasn't able to talk much because Natsuko talked too much.

　

Examples（例文）

This idiom means that a person is able to say something in a conversation in which another person or other people talk a lot. Note that this expression is almost always used in a negative sense (using "can't," couldn't," or "not be able to") at times when you can't speak because other people are talking too much.

I tried to tell everyone a story about my trip to Hokkaido, but Everett spoke so much that I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

The word edgeways is also used:

I tried to tell my side of the story, but I couldn't get a word in edgeways.

Exercises （練習） Grammar work using "can."

1. Whenever I talk to Natsuko, I ____________ never get a word in edgewise.

A. could

B. could not

C. can't

D. can

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2. Type the missing word(s) in the box.

I'm going to meet Everett for lunch tomorrow. I'm sure I won't be to get a word in edgewise during the conversation.

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