FrenchBotter en touche
Meaning: To dodge a question by changing the subject.
Literally: To kick into touch
Example: “Interrogé sur ses impôts, le candidat a botté en touche.” — Asked about his taxes, the candidate dodged the question.
Origin: The touche being out of play, kicking the ball there is how a side under pressure buys itself a pause — the game stops, teammates get back into position, and the immediate danger goes away, at the cost of gaining no ground whatever. The phrase is from the start of the 20th century and transferred to argument: someone who botte en touche steers the discussion onto ground other than the one it started on, skillfully or otherwise. It is the standard French verdict on a politician's answer.
More French idioms
- Vérité en deçà des Pyrénées, erreur au-delà What counts as true depends on which side of a border you stand.
- Un vieux de la vieille A veteran of long standing.
- En quatrième vitesse At top speed; as fast as possible.
- Au temps pour moi My mistake.
- Aller au charbon To head off to work; to steel oneself for something disagreeable.
- Passer l'arme à gauche To die.
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