change the subject
Redirect the conversation
To change the subject is to shift a conversation away from its current topic, often deliberately to avoid discomfort or deflect attention: When I asked about the money, he quickly changed the subject.
The phrase usually implies intentional redirection rather than natural conversational drift.
- drop the topicStop pursuing a conversation thread
- diversionRedirection of attention
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- beat around the bushAvoid stating directly
- digressionVeering off topic
segue · deflection · reframe · pivot · steer · self-preservation · redirect · sidetrack · transition · moving on · repression · denial · elephant in the room · swept under the rug · distract · swerve · interject · nervous laugh
- distractionsdistraction, digression, tangent, sidetrack, diversion
change the subjectstay focused
Maintain mental concentration
follow through · dig deeper · stay the course · elaborate · keep at it
change the subjectget to the point
Speak directly now
cut to the chase · face the music · deal with it · have it out · clear the air
change, changes, changed, changing, changeable, unchangeable, changer, exchange, interchange