empty talk

"Dinners and parties, empty talk and vain show," said Flora languidly.

The word "talk" is often used in a derogatory sense, and we hear such expressions as "all talk," "empty talk," and "idle talk."

The passengers looked as though it were not worth while to reply to such empty talk.

Lea was making empty talk while she listened to the memory of hysteria tittering at the fringes of her brain.

Nor was this mere empty talk; Vansittart had pledged himself to specific performance.