English Idiom – Switch gears.
Alternative versions of this idiom:
- Change gears
- Shift gears
Meaning – To suddenly change what you are doing or discussing. To abruptly change the subject. If you switch gears you begin doing something completely different.
- 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!”
In The News:
Chastain Switches Gears, To Chase Truck Title
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What 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.
What is FunkyEnglish?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!