Passer du coq à l'âne

Meaning: To switch topics abruptly and illogically.

Language: French

Literally: To jump from the rooster to the donkey

Category: Animals

Origin: From medieval French 'saillir du coq en l'asne'; the nonsensical leap between animals pictures a disjointed conversation.

More idioms — Animals

• To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
• Die Kuh vom Eis holen — To resolve a precarious situation.
• Eulen nach Athen tragen — To do something utterly pointless.
• Hummeln im Hintern haben — To be unable to sit still.
• Ser la oveja negra — To be the outcast of the family or group.
• Tirar o cavalo da chuva — To give up on an expectation.

More French idioms

• Avoir le melon — To be bigheaded and conceited.
• Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs — To do things in the wrong order.
• Avoir le cœur sur la main — To be very generous and giving.
• Tirer son épingle du jeu — To extract yourself cleverly from a tricky situation.
• Être soupe au lait — To be quick-tempered and flare up easily.
• Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge — To be far from done with one's troubles.

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