noun

pillow talk

PIL-oh tawk

Pillow talk (noun) means Quiet, intimate conversation between lovers in bed, especially after sex. Example: “Half the relationship happened in pillow talk after the lights went out.”

noun

Quiet, intimate conversation between lovers in bed, especially after sex.

"Half the relationship happened in pillow talk after the lights went out."

"He learned more about her family in one night of pillow talk than in six months of dating."

Confidential information given away in that setting, especially secrets a person would not disclose otherwise.

"The tribunal heard that the tip-off started as pillow talk."

How to Use Pillow talk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe quiet chat couples have in bed.

When to use it

Informal but not vulgar. Uncountable, so no plural and no article: 'some pillow talk', not 'a pillow talk'.

Memory tip

Dirty talk happens during sex and is explicit; pillow talk usually comes afterwards and is affectionate or confiding.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

sweet nothings dirty talk small talk

Common pairings

a bit of pillow talk after-sex pillow talk during pillow talk

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Fill the Gap

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Half the relationship happened in _____ after the lights went out.

Etymology

A compound of pillow and talk, describing conversation held in bed.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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bedroom talk intimate conversation sweet nothings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pillow talk and dirty talk?

Dirty talk is explicit sexual language used to arouse, typically during sex. Pillow talk is the softer, more open conversation couples have lying in bed, usually afterwards, and is about intimacy and confiding rather than arousal.

Why do people open up during pillow talk?

Physical closeness, darkness, low pressure and the relaxation that follows sex all lower people's guard, and hormones released after orgasm promote bonding. That combination makes it a setting where people say things they would keep to themselves elsewhere.

Is pillow talk always romantic?

Usually, but the phrase is also used to describe indiscretion, as when someone lets slip a business or state secret to a partner. In espionage and legal contexts pillow talk means information leaked in private intimacy.