Ready to tidy up a chat like a pro? This lesson gives you friendly French phrases to close topics smoothly.
Think of these as social glue—polite, natural ways to move on or pause a conversation.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice 13 natural French chunks for ending topics, changing subject, or postponing details. You'll hear them in a short conversation, repeat them aloud, and do quick quizzes to lock in meaning — all CEFR-aligned and practical for real talks.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Use set phrases to close a topic politely and naturally.
Suggest postponing or returning to topics later.
Practice B1-level conversational transitions and summarizing lines.
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.
Bref, on a assez parlé de ___.
Anyway, that's enough about ___.
Meaning: Anyway, that's enough about ___.
When to use: Use this to signal that you've had enough discussion about a particular person, event, or topic.
Tip: Before a word that starts with a vowel, write « d'___ » (ex: « d'elle ») rather than « de ___ ».
Bref, on a assez parlé de la réunion.
Anyway, that's enough about the meeting.
Bref, on a assez parlé de ce problème, passons à autre chose.
Anyway, that's enough about this problem; let's move on.
Parlons d'autre chose.
Let's talk about something else.
Meaning: Let's talk about something else.
When to use: Use when you want to suggest changing the subject politely.
Parlons d'autre chose, comme le planning du mois prochain.
Let's talk about something else, like next month's schedule.
Ce sujet est compliqué. Parlons d'autre chose un instant.
This topic is complicated. Let's talk about something else for a moment.
Je pense qu'on a fait le tour.
I think we've covered that.
Meaning: I think we've covered that.
When to use: Say this when you feel the topic has been discussed fully.
Je pense qu'on a fait le tour de la question budget.
I think we've covered the budget question.
Après ces remarques, je pense qu'on a fait le tour.
After those comments, I think we've covered it.
On peut y revenir plus tard.
We can come back to that later.
Meaning: We can come back to that later.
When to use: Offer this when a topic is important but not urgent right now.
On peut y revenir plus tard si nécessaire.
We can come back to that later if needed.
Tu as une bonne idée — on peut y revenir plus tard dans la réunion.
You have a good idea — we can come back to that later in the meeting.
Bon, on passe à la suite.
So, moving on.
Meaning: So, moving on.
When to use: A smooth, neutral phrase to signal transition to the next point.
Bon, on passe à la suite: le calendrier des événements.
So, moving on: the events calendar.
Bon, on passe à la suite — qui veut parler du marketing?
So, moving on — who wants to talk about marketing?
On devrait peut-être s'arrêter là pour l'instant.
Maybe we should leave it there for now.
Meaning: Maybe we should leave it there for now.
When to use: Use this to gently stop a discussion temporarily.
On devrait peut-être s'arrêter là pour l'instant et y réfléchir.
Maybe we should leave it there for now and think about it.
On devrait peut-être s'arrêter là pour l'instant; on reviendra demain.
Maybe we should leave it there for now; we'll come back tomorrow.
C'est tout ce que je voulais dire sur ___.
That's all I wanted to say about ___.
Meaning: That's all I wanted to say about ___.
When to use: Use to close your part of an explanation or story politely.
C'est tout ce que je voulais dire sur le planning.
That's all I wanted to say about the schedule.
C'est tout ce que je voulais dire sur mon expérience là-bas.
That's all I wanted to say about my experience there.
Je ne veux pas passer trop de temps là-dessus.
I don't want to spend too long on this.
Meaning: I don't want to spend too long on this.
When to use: Politely limit the time spent on a topic during a discussion.
Tip: Learners sometimes drop the 'ne' in spoken French; in casual speech « Je veux pas… » is common but less formal.
Je ne veux pas passer trop de temps là-dessus, on a d'autres points.
I don't want to spend too long on this; we have other points.
Je ne veux pas passer trop de temps là-dessus, mais bonne idée.
I don't want to spend too long on this, but good idea.
On en reste là pour l'instant.
Let's leave it at that for now.
Meaning: Let's leave it at that for now.
When to use: Use to stop a detailed discussion while accepting the current result.
On en reste là pour l'instant et on en reparle si besoin.
Let's leave it at that for now and talk again if needed.
On en reste là pour l'instant; c'était suffisant pour aujourd'hui.
Let's leave it at that for now; it was enough for today.
Enfin bref, on ne va pas rentrer dans les détails.
Anyway, let's not get into all the details.
Meaning: Anyway, let's not get into all the details.
When to use: Avoid going into unnecessary details and close a topic politely.
Enfin bref, on ne va pas rentrer dans les détails maintenant.
Anyway, let's not get into the details now.
Enfin bref, on ne va pas rentrer dans les détails; l'essentiel est clair.
Anyway, we won't get into details; the main point is clear.
Je ne vais pas rentrer là-dedans maintenant.
I won't go into that now.
Meaning: I won't go into that now.
When to use: Signal that you will not explain a topic further at this moment.
Je ne vais pas rentrer là-dedans maintenant, j'en parlerai plus tard.
I won't go into that now; I'll talk about it later.
C'est compliqué, je ne vais pas rentrer là-dedans maintenant.
It's complicated; I won't go into that now.
Je te raconterai ça une autre fois.
That's a story for another time.
Meaning: That's a story for another time.
When to use: Postpone a longer or less relevant explanation in a friendly way.
Je te raconterai ça une autre fois, c'est trop long maintenant.
I'll tell you that another time; it's too long right now.
Je vous raconterai ça une autre fois, quand on aura plus de temps.
I'll tell you that another time, when we have more time.
Bref, ___.
Long story short, ___.
Meaning: Long story short, ___.
When to use: Use to give a brief summary before closing the topic.
Tip: Don't forget to follow with the short summary; leaving 'Bref,' alone can sound unfinished.
Bref, le projet est accepté et on commence lundi.
Long story short, the project was approved and we start Monday.
Bref, tout est prêt; il faut juste signer les documents.
Long story short, everything is ready; we just need to sign the papers.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Two colleagues deciding whether to continue a topic in a meeting.
What do Anna and David decide about the topic?
Anna
Je pense qu'on a fait le tour.
I think we've covered that.
David
On peut y revenir plus tard si besoin.
We can come back to that later if needed.
Anna
Bon, on passe à la suite.
So, moving on.
David
Parlons d'autre chose.
Let's talk about something else.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which French phrase means "Let's talk about something else."?
Which phrase best matches "We can come back to that later."?
Which phrase means "I won't go into that now."?
Which phrase is used to give a brief summary before ending a topic ("Long story short,…")?
So, moving on: let's talk about the budget.
Nous avons discuté des horaires. ___, parlons du budget.
That's all I wanted to say about the project.
Après ma longue explication sur le projet, je dis : "____"
Maybe we should leave it there for now if you prefer.
La réunion est longue; __ si vous préférez.
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:
Bref, on a assez parlé de ___.
Anyway, that's enough about ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Parlons d'autre chose.
Let's talk about something else.
Say this phrase out loud:
Je pense qu'on a fait le tour.
I think we've covered that.
Say this phrase out loud:
On peut y revenir plus tard.
We can come back to that later.
Say this phrase out loud:
Bon, on passe à la suite.
So, moving on.
Say this phrase out loud:
On devrait peut-être s'arrêter là pour l'instant.
Maybe we should leave it there for now.
Say this phrase out loud:
C'est tout ce que je voulais dire sur ___.
That's all I wanted to say about ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Je ne veux pas passer trop de temps là-dessus.
I don't want to spend too long on this.
Say this phrase out loud:
On en reste là pour l'instant.
Let's leave it at that for now.
Say this phrase out loud:
Enfin bref, on ne va pas rentrer dans les détails.
