German - Lesson 98 of 158: Ending Topics

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Na ja, genug von ___.

Anyway, that's enough about ___.

Meaning: Anyway, that's enough about ___.

When to use: Use to signal you've heard enough about a topic or want to stop discussing it.

Na ja, genug von der Arbeit.

Anyway, that's enough about the work.

Na ja, genug von diesem Thema — reden wir weiter.

Anyway, that's enough about this topic — let's continue.

Lass uns über etwas anderes reden.

Let's talk about something else.

Meaning: Let's talk about something else.

When to use: Use informally to suggest changing the subject; in formal settings use 'Reden wir über etwas anderes.'

Lass uns über etwas anderes reden — was ist mit dem neuen Plan?

Let's talk about something else — what about the new plan?

Dieses Thema ist erledigt. Lass uns über etwas anderes reden.

This topic is done. Let's talk about something else.

Ich glaube, das haben wir genug besprochen.

I think we've covered that.

Meaning: I think we've covered that.

When to use: Say this when a topic has been discussed enough and you want to move on.

Ich glaube, das haben wir genug besprochen — nächste Frage?

I think we've covered that enough — next question?

Danke, ich glaube, das haben wir genug besprochen.

Thanks, I think we've discussed that enough.

Darauf können wir später zurückkommen.

We can come back to that later.

Meaning: We can come back to that later.

When to use: Use to postpone a detail or bring it up again later in meetings or conversations.

Darauf können wir später zurückkommen, wenn mehr Informationen da sind.

We can come back to that later when more information is available.

Das ist wichtig, aber darauf können wir später zurückkommen.

That's important, but we can return to it later.

So, weiter geht's.

So, moving on.

Meaning: So, moving on.

When to use: A spoken transition to introduce the next point or topic.

So, weiter geht's — Punkt zwei auf der Agenda.

So, moving on — item two on the agenda.

Gut, das geklärt. So, weiter geht's.

Good, that's settled. So, moving on.

Vielleicht lassen wir es erst mal dabei.

Maybe we should leave it there for now.

Meaning: Maybe we should leave it there for now.

When to use: Use to suggest ending discussion for the moment without finalizing everything.

Vielleicht lassen wir es erst mal dabei und prüfen Zahlen später.

Maybe we should leave it at that for now and check the numbers later.

Das ist kompliziert — vielleicht lassen wir es erst mal dabei.

This is complicated — maybe let's leave it there for now.

Das wollte ich zu ___ sagen.

That's all I wanted to say about ___.

Meaning: That's all I wanted to say about ___.

When to use: Close a personal explanation or story, signaling you have no more to add.

Das wollte ich zu dem Projekt sagen.

That's all I wanted to say about the project.

Das wollte ich zu meiner Idee sagen — danke fürs Zuhören.

That's all I wanted to say about my idea — thanks for listening.

Ich will mich damit nicht zu lange aufhalten.

I don't want to spend too long on this.

Meaning: I don't want to spend too long on this.

When to use: Use to politely limit time spent on a topic and move the conversation forward.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget the reflexive 'mich' in 'Ich will mich damit nicht zu lange aufhalten.'

Ich will mich damit nicht zu lange aufhalten, wir haben noch andere Punkte.

I don't want to spend too long on this; we have other points.

Okay, ich will mich damit nicht zu lange aufhalten — kurz zur Entscheidung:

Okay, I won't dwell on this — briefly about the decision:

Lassen wir es erst mal dabei.

Let's leave it at that for now.

Meaning: Let's leave it at that for now.

When to use: Stop detailed discussion while accepting the current result or agreement.

Lassen wir es erst mal dabei und sehen, wie es läuft.

Let's leave it at that for now and see how it goes.

Wenn alle einverstanden sind, lassen wir es erst mal dabei.

If everyone agrees, let's leave it at that for now.

Na ja, gehen wir nicht zu sehr ins Detail.

Anyway, let's not get into all the details.

Meaning: Anyway, let's not get into all the details.

When to use: Use to shorten a topic and avoid unnecessary detail; casual tone.

Na ja, gehen wir nicht zu sehr ins Detail — die Zeit ist knapp.

Anyway, let's not get into too much detail — time is short.

Das ist interessant, aber na ja, gehen wir nicht zu sehr ins Detail.

That's interesting, but anyway, let's not go into too much detail.

Darauf gehe ich jetzt nicht weiter ein.

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 the moment.

Darauf gehe ich jetzt nicht weiter ein — das ist für ein anderes Treffen.

I won't go into that now — that's for another meeting.

Gute Frage, darauf gehe ich jetzt nicht weiter ein.

Good question; I won't go into that now.

Das erzähle ich ein anderes Mal.

That's a story for another time.

Meaning: That's a story for another time.

When to use: Use to postpone a longer or less relevant explanation in a friendly way.

Das erzähle ich ein anderes Mal — jetzt haben wir keine Zeit.

I'll tell that another time — we don't have time now.

Ha! Das erzähle ich ein anderes Mal, das ist länger.

Ha! I'll tell that another time; it's a longer story.

Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn: ___.

Long story short, ___.

Meaning: Long story short, ___.

When to use: Use this fixed idiom to summarize a longer point before ending the topic.

Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn: Wir brauchen mehr Zeit.

Long story short: we need more time.

Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn: Ich habe den Vertrag unterschrieben.

Long story short: I signed the contract.

German - Ending Topics

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which German phrase means 'Let's talk about something else.'?

Which phrase best fits meaning 'We can come back to that later.'?

Which phrase would you use to politely stop a long discussion for now?

Which idiom means 'Long story short' and is used to summarize before ending the topic?

After a long discussion Julia said, 'I think we've covered that.'

The meeting is almost over. The moderator: 'So, moving on.'

Anna hesitated and said, 'I don't want to spend too long on this.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice