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edgewise
able to get a word in edgewise
Able to speak despite other people dominating the conversation (hence the image of squeezing words in "edgewise"—sideways). Usually used in the negative. When Mary came up for air in her monologue, I was finally able to get a word in edgewise about my own weekend! The third-tier candidate wasn't able to get a word in edgewise at the debate.
get a word in edgewise and get a word in edgeways
Fig. to manage to say something when other people are talking and ignoring you. (Often in the negative. Alludes to trying to "squeeze" a word into a running conversation.) It was such an exciting conversation that I could hardly get a word in edgewise. Mary talks so fast that nobody can get a word in edgeways.
get a word in edgewise
to find an opportunity to say something Harold talked so much that nobody else could get a word in edgewise.
get a word in edgeways
(British, American & Australian informal) also get a word in edgewise (American informal) if you can't get a word in edgeways, you do not have an opportunity to say anything because someone is talking so much or so quickly Roz was talking so much that nobody else could get a word in edgeways.
get a word in edgewise
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]