change the subject

Meaning

To start talking about something else, especially to avoid an uncomfortable, boring, or sensitive topic. It is used in everyday conversations when someone wants to steer the discussion in a new direction. The tone can be polite and subtle, or sometimes abrupt if the person is highly uncomfortable.

Examples

• When I asked him about his ex-girlfriend, he quickly tried to change the subject.

  When I asked him about his ex-girlfriend, he quickly tried to change the subject.

• I didn't want to talk about politics, so I changed the subject to our holiday plans.

  I didn't want to talk about politics, so I changed the subject to our holiday plans.

• Every time we discuss the budget, she finds a way to change the subject.

  Every time we discuss the budget, she finds a way to change the subject.

• Let's change the subject; this conversation is getting a bit too serious.

  Let's change the subject; this conversation is getting a bit too serious.

• She noticed he was uncomfortable and gracefully changed the subject.

  She noticed he was uncomfortable and gracefully changed the subject.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He changed the topic of the conversation.

  ✓ He changed the subject.

  While 'change the topic' is sometimes used, 'change the subject' is the standard, highly idiomatic collocation used when someone is intentionally avoiding an awkward or sensitive issue.

• ✗ Don't change your subject!

  ✓ Don't change the subject!

  We use the definite article 'the' instead of a possessive pronoun like 'your' or 'his' in this fixed English idiom.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I could tell he was uncomfortable, so I decided to ___.

  💡 steer the conversation to a new topic

  Show answer

  change the subject

• Please don't ___ every time I ask about your future plans.

  💡 try to talk about something else to avoid the question

  Show answer

  change the subject