passer à autre chose
The English phrase "moving on" can be translated into French as passer à autre chose.
passer à autre chose is used when someone is stopping a current activity, thought or topic to start something new. This applies to transitioning between topics in a conversation or, more emotionally, moving on from a past event or relationship.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to pass to another thing".
Which one should you use?
While passer à autre chose implies a change in subject or a departure from a current state, the phrase passer à la suite is used specifically when moving to the next item in a sequence or a list.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is provided in the infinitive form. It can be conjugated to fit different subjects, such as je passe à autre chose (I am moving on).
Did you know?
- The word chose in passer à autre chose descends from the Latin word causa, which means 'cause' or 'reason'.
Examples in context
- Après cette expérience difficile, il est temps de passer à autre chose.After this difficult experience, it's time to move on.
- Malgré la douleur, il faut continuer sa vie et voir l'avenir.Despite the pain, one must move on and look towards the future.
- Il est temps de tourner la page et de chercher de nouvelles aventures.It's time to move on and seek new adventures.
- Il est temps de faire le deuil et de se reconstruire.It's time to move on and rebuild oneself.
- Il est temps de passer à autre chose.It is time to move on.
- Après cette dispute, elle veut passer à autre chose.After this argument, she wants to move on.
- On ne peut pas rester bloqués, il faut passer à autre chose.We can't stay stuck, we must move on.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are studying for an exam together.
- ChloéJe pense qu'on a compris ce chapitre.I think we understood this chapter.
- LucasOui, je suis d'accord avec toi.Yes, I agree with you.
- ChloéAlors, on peut passer à autre chose ?So, can we move on to something else?
- LucasD'accord, passons à la leçon suivante.Okay, let's move to the next lesson.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries autre, chose, passer, passer à autre chose, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
