Hi — ready to practice some natural ways to end a topic? This short lesson helps you close conversations politely and move on with confidence. Have fun — these are great little social tools.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll learn common phrases for ending a topic, changing the subject, and postponing details. These neutral, spoken chunks help you politely stop a discussion or transition smoothly. Lesson 98 focuses on short, useful lines you can use in everyday conversation.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use B1-level phrases to close a topic politely.
Practice moving a conversation on without sounding abrupt.
Use short summaries and postponing phrases in natural speech.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Anyway, that's enough about ___.
Signal that enough has been said about a topic
Meaning: Signal that enough has been said about a topic.
When to use: Use this when you want to close a topic after talking about it for a while.
Tip: Don't use it to avoid answering simple questions — it's for closing longer topics.
Anyway, that's enough about my trip.
Anyway, that's enough about my trip.
Anyway, that's enough about this problem — let's move on.
Anyway, that's enough about this problem — let's move on.
Let's talk about something else.
Move the conversation to a new topic
Meaning: Move the conversation to a new topic.
When to use: A direct but polite phrase to change the subject in a friendly way.
Let's talk about something else — how was your weekend?
Let's talk about something else — how was your weekend?
That's settled. Let's talk about something else now.
That's settled. Let's talk about something else now.
I think we've covered that.
State that a topic has been discussed enough
Meaning: State that a topic has been discussed enough.
When to use: Say this when the necessary points have been made and you want to stop discussing.
I think we've covered that, so we can decide now.
I think we've covered that, so we can decide now.
I think we've covered that — any other questions?
I think we've covered that — any other questions?
We can come back to that later.
Suggest returning to a topic later
Meaning: Suggest returning to a topic later.
When to use: Use when the topic isn't urgent but should be discussed again in the future.
We can come back to that later, after we check the data.
We can come back to that later, after we check the data.
If it's okay, we can come back to that later in the meeting.
If it's okay, we can come back to that later in the meeting.
So, moving on.
Transition away from the current topic
Meaning: Transition away from the current topic.
When to use: A short, conversational marker to lead the group to the next point.
So, moving on, what about next week's schedule?
So, moving on, what about next week's schedule?
So, moving on — let's look at the budget.
So, moving on — let's look at the budget.
Maybe we should leave it there for now.
End discussion of a topic for now
Meaning: End discussion of a topic for now.
When to use: Polite suggestion to pause the conversation without final closure.
Maybe we should leave it there for now and think more.
Maybe we should leave it there for now and think more.
This is getting long — maybe we should leave it there for now.
This is getting long — maybe we should leave it there for now.
That's all I wanted to say about ___.
Close a personal explanation or story
Meaning: Close a personal explanation or story.
When to use: Good when you finish explaining something about yourself or your view.
That's all I wanted to say about my idea.
That's all I wanted to say about my idea.
That's all I wanted to say about the meeting — your turn.
That's all I wanted to say about the meeting — your turn.
I don't want to spend too long on this.
Politely limit time spent on a topic
Meaning: Politely limit time spent on a topic.
When to use: Use this to gently stop a long or sensitive discussion.
I don't want to spend too long on this, so let's pick one option.
I don't want to spend too long on this, so let's pick one option.
I don't want to spend too long on this — any quick thoughts?
I don't want to spend too long on this — any quick thoughts?
Let's leave it at that for now.
Stop detailed discussion while accepting the current result
Meaning: Stop detailed discussion while accepting the current result.
When to use: Use when details are settled enough and you want to stop further discussion.
Let's leave it at that for now and move forward.
Let's leave it at that for now and move forward.
We've made a decision — let's leave it at that for now.
We've made a decision — let's leave it at that for now.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details.
Avoid giving too many details and close a topic politely.
Meaning: Avoid giving too many details and close a topic politely.
When to use: When a topic would require long detail but you want to stop the conversation now.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details — it's complicated.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details — it's complicated.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details; we can decide later.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details; we can decide later.
I won't go into that now.
Signal that a topic will not be explained further right now.
Meaning: Signal that a topic will not be explained further right now.
When to use: Useful when you need to manage how much you explain in the moment.
I won't go into that now — we'll save it for the report.
I won't go into that now — we'll save it for the report.
I won't go into that now; it's a longer issue.
I won't go into that now; it's a longer issue.
That's a story for another time.
Postpone a longer or less relevant explanation in a friendly way.
Meaning: Postpone a longer or less relevant explanation in a friendly way.
When to use: Use when you want to keep the tone friendly but delay details.
That's a story for another time — I'll tell you soon.
That's a story for another time — I'll tell you soon.
That's a story for another time; it's a long one.
That's a story for another time; it's a long one.
Long story short, ___.
Summarize a longer point briefly before ending the topic.
Meaning: Summarize a longer point briefly before ending the topic.
When to use: When you want to compress a long story into a short conclusion and end the topic.
Tip: Be careful not to follow it with a long new paragraph — it's meant to be short and final.
Long story short, we missed the train.
Long story short, we missed the train.
Long story short, I decided to change jobs.
Long story short, I decided to change jobs.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Two friends finish a difficult topic and move on to something lighter.
Who says 'Let's talk about something else'?
Anna
Anyway, that's enough about my trip.
Signal that enough has been said about a topic.
David
Yeah, I don't want to spend too long on this.
Politely limit time spent on a topic.
Anna
Maybe we should leave it there for now.
End discussion of a topic for now.
David
Okay. Let's talk about something else.
Move the conversation to a new topic.
Anna
So, moving on, did you see the new cafe?
Transition away from the current topic.
David
Long story short, it's great.
Summarize a longer point briefly before ending the topic.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
You just told a long story and want to give a quick summary before stopping. Which phrase fits best?
A colleague asks for many details, but you want to avoid a long explanation now. Which sentence is best?
You want to stop a sensitive conversation gently. Which phrase is most polite and soft?
After a decision in a meeting, you want to stop further debate and move on. Which is best?
We have argued about this long enough; let's leave it at that for now.
We have argued about this long enough; ___.
This is a long story, but long story short, it worked out well.
This is a long story, but ___.
I have more to say, but I don't want to spend too long on this.
I have more to say, but ___.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
Anyway, that's enough about ___.
Signal that enough has been said about a topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Let's talk about something else.
Move the conversation to a new topic
Say this phrase out loud:
I think we've covered that.
State that a topic has been discussed enough
Say this phrase out loud:
We can come back to that later.
Suggest returning to a topic later
Say this phrase out loud:
So, moving on.
Transition away from the current topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Maybe we should leave it there for now.
End discussion of a topic for now
Say this phrase out loud:
That's all I wanted to say about ___.
Close a personal explanation or story
Say this phrase out loud:
I don't want to spend too long on this.
Politely limit time spent on a topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Let's leave it at that for now.
Stop detailed discussion while accepting the current result
Say this phrase out loud:
Anyway, let's not get into all the details.
Avoid giving too many details and close a topic politely
Say this phrase out loud:
I won't go into that now.
Signal that a topic will not be explained further right now
Say this phrase out loud:
That's a story for another time.
Postpone a longer or less relevant explanation in a friendly way
Say this phrase out loud:
Long story short, ___.
Summarize a longer point briefly before ending the topic
