compare notes

compare notes (third-person singular simple present compares notes, present participle comparing notes, simple past and past participle compared notes)

1. To exchange information and ideas about related experiences.
   • 1960 January, G. Freeman Allen, “"Condor"—British Railways' fastest freight train”, in Trains Illustrated, page 47:

     Two minutes are allowed "Condor" at Carlisle, and those involved had no time to compare notes on the state of the nation, the management, the unions or the racing calendar.

   • 2005, Judith Rogers, The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, page 194:

     Priscilla's only problem in the first trimester was fatigue. She said, "It helped to compare notes with women who had many more discomforts than I did."

   • 2009, Julian Barnes, Vanessa Guignery, Ryan Roberts, Conversations with Julian Barnes, page 3:

     They cultivate rootlessness and cynicism, shout ironic encouragement from the sidelines of football fields, compare notes on the boring ineffectuality of adults, compare notes on ventures in piss-taking, indolently lay sardonic plans for the future.

   • 2014, Irving Fisher, The Money Illusion:

     It follows, of course, that when people from different countries with different moneys compare notes they find that their ideas are in conflict.

• pick someone's brain