drop the subject

[drɑp ðə ˈsʌbdʒɪkt]
verb phrase
deixar de lado o assunto / largar o assunto
1. To stop discussing or talking about a particular topic, usually to avoid conflict or discomfort
I could see she was upset about my comment, so I decided to drop the subject.
Eu podia ver que ela estava chateada com meu comentário, então decidi deixar de lado o assunto.
2. To cease pursuing a line of conversation or argument
Let's just drop the subject and move on to something else.
Vamos apenas largar o assunto e passar para outra coisa.
This phrase is commonly used in both American and Brazilian contexts to establish boundaries in conversation and maintain social harmony. In Brazilian culture, it's often accompanied by physical gestures dismissing the topic. It reflects a preference for avoiding prolonged conflict in social interactions and is considered a polite way to signal the end of a discussion.
NYC Slang
fuggedaboutit / drop it
Synonyms / Sinônimos
let it gochange the subjectmove onstop talking about itshelve the discussion
Antonyms / Antônimos
bring up the subjectpursue the matterpress the issuekeep discussing

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
deixar de lado o assunto / largar o assunto
most common usage in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
deixar o assunto pra lá
colloquial form commonly used in carioca dialect
São Paulo
largar o assunto / botar uma cruz no assunto
typical paulista expression; second form is more colloquial
Portugal
deixar o assunto / abandonar o tema
European Portuguese tends to be more formal; less colloquial alternatives used

Related Words

subjectdiscussionconversationtopicavoiddismiss

Related Idioms & Phrases

let sleeping dogs lie
let the dust settle
bury the hatchet
agree to disagree
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