What does the idiom to get a word in edgewise mean?

The idiom "to get a word in edgewise" means to interrupt a conversation or speak when there's a chance, even if it's brief. It implies that the speaker is having difficulty getting their turn to talk because someone else is talking excessively.

Here are some examples:

* "I couldn't get a word in edgewise with my aunt - she was telling me all about her trip to Hawaii."

* "The meeting was so chaotic, I couldn't get a word in edgewise."

* "He was so excited about his new job, I barely got a word in edgewise."

The image is that of trying to squeeze a word into a conversation that's already full of other words, like trying to wedge yourself into a crowded space.