English Idiom – Switch gears.
To suddenly change what you are doing or discussing. To abruptly change the subject. If you switch gears you begin doing something completely different.
Alternative versions of this idiom:
- Change gears
- Shift gears
- When you change gear (e.g. in a manual car, some machine or on a bike) you select a different gear to function on. You are using a completely different gear.
- There is some confusion/disagreement over the true meaning of this idiom. If you switch gears in a car you can go faster or slower, because of this some people use the idiom in a way that means you start doing something at a faster or slower pace. A better idiom for this context would be shift into a higher or lower gear.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You are talking to a friend but getting bored of the subject.
- A person is nice to you one moment, but nasty the next.
- During a problem solving session you decide to consider a different idea.
- You friend is making you uncomfortable by talking about a sensitive subject!
Example:
- “Can we stop talking about that hullabaloo last night? Let’s switch gears and decide what to eat for dinner!”
Learn More
Look it upSwitch gearsWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
To suddenly change what you are doing or talking about.
“Change gears” and “shift gears” are also common.
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