‖ revenons à nos moutons, phr.
(rəvnɔ̃z a no mutɔ̃)
[Fr., lit. ‘let us return to our sheep’, with allusion to the confused court scene in the Old French Farce de Maistre Pierre Pathelin (c 1470).]
‘Let us return to the subject’: an exhortation to cease digressing.
| [1617 J. Chamberlain Let. 22 Feb. in T. Birch Court & Times James I (1848) I. 459 But, pour retourner à nos moutons, this feasting begins to grow to an excessive rate.] 1822 Blackw. Mag. May 610 North. On proceeds..Byron..the immoral, irreligious, and unpatriotic tendency of too many of his productions... Omnes (sing). Very good song, Very well sung, Jolly companions every one... North. Revenons a nos moutons! Childe Harold. 1839 Thackeray in Fraser's Mag. Aug. 228/2 But, revenons à nos moutons, let us return to that sweet lamb, Master Thomas. 1850 ― Pendennis I. xxxvii. 364 That brings me back to my point—revenons à nos moutons. Yes, begad! revenons à nos moutons. c 1909 D. H. Lawrence Collier's Friday Night (1934) ii. 48 Ernest. I'll bet the dear boy enjoys that blush. Beatrice. Ra-ther! (Artlessly revenant à son mouton.) And he'll have the rose and all, to rejoice the cockles of his heart this time. 1926 J. S. Huxley Ess. Pop. Sci. 27 But revenons à nos moutons—to our chromosomes. 1932 A. Christie Peril at End House ii. 37 Revenons à nos moutons... I implore you to be serious. 1966 ‘H. Carmichael’ Suicide Clause xi. 124 You didn't come here to listen to irrelevant chatter. So, revenons à nos moutons. 1972 Country Life 9 Nov. 1243/2 Revenons à nos moutons. As soon as I saw my cards, the earlier hand flashed through my mind. |