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REFERENCE

return to one's muttons

idiom
Meaning

To get back to the business at hand.


Origin

disputed origin

Humorous calque translation of French revenons à nos moutons, from “La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin”

Examples
SIMPLE

Let us return to our muttons and finish the work.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long discussion about the weather, the manager asked the team to return to their muttons.

COMPLEX

Though the digression was quite entertaining, the professor eventually insisted that the committee return to their muttons to address the urgent budget crisis.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 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”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

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