return to one's muttons
To get back to the business at hand.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Let us return to our muttons and finish the work.”
“Please stop talking about the game so we can return to our muttons.”
“After a long discussion about the weather, the manager asked the team to return to their muttons.”
“While the stories about his vacation were funny, we really need to return to our muttons if we want to finish this report before the deadline.”
“Though the digression was quite entertaining, the professor eventually insisted that the committee return to their muttons to address the urgent budget crisis.”
A humorous calque translation of the French phrase *revenons à nos moutons*, originating in the 15th-century play *La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin*. In the narrative, a draper attempts to prosecute a shepherd for the theft of his sheep, but repeatedly loses his train of thought to complain about a lawyer who has stolen his cloth; the judge is obliged to frequently remind the complainant to return to the subject of his livestock. The phrase entered English as a pointed method of suggesting a speaker abandon their digressions and resume the matter at hand.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026