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Glite Dictionary
to return to muttons

to return to muttons

9.9
To go back to the main topic or task after a distraction
  • idiom
translation icon : volver al tema
  • Let's return to muttons and review the agenda, shall we?

Examples

  • After their lunch break, the team decided to return to muttons and focus on the presentation.

  • He joked that it was time to return to muttons after their discussion wandered off-topic.

  • Let's return to muttons and discuss our project.

  • She often returns to muttons after long discussions.

  • After their lunch break, the team decided to return to muttons and continue their work on the project.

  • He jokingly suggested it was time to return to muttons once their conversation veered off the main topic.

  • Let's return to muttons and concentrate on the priorities we set at the beginning of the meeting.

Synonyms

to come back
vsto return to muttons
919 1.3

To return to a previous subject or point

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to resume
vsto return to muttons
297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to get back to work
vsto return to muttons
268 1.7

Start doing your job again after a break

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to get back on track
vsto return to muttons
62 3.4

Start working normally again after a problem or distraction

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to refocus
vsto return to muttons
23 3.9

Adjust something so it is clear or pay attention to something again

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to circle back
vsto return to muttons
  • Jargon
18 4.4

To return to a topic later to talk about it

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to recommence
vsto return to muttons
  • Formal
2 5.6

To begin again after a pause

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to reapply
vsto return to muttons
1 3.6

Give your attention or effort to something again after a break

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression
to pick up the thread
vsto return to muttons
1 4.9

To start an earlier activity or conversation again after an interruption

is about bringing attention back to the main topic and key tasks after a digression

Antonyms

to digress
22 6.8

To start talking about something else for a short time

How Focused

to concentrate
561 3.4
to return to muttons
9.9

Surface Forms

return to muttons infinitive
returned to muttons past
returned to muttons past participle
returning to muttons present participle
returns to muttons third person singular

Morphology

return + to + muttons

The verb 'return' and the preposition 'to' are transparent, but the key lexical item 'muttons' is either unknown or literal (meat), and its form and sense do not provide a plausible route to 'resume the main topic'. A B1 learner who knows the constituents would not infer the idiomatic meaning (and the phrase may be a malapropism of 'matters'), so the expression is not compositional for typical learners.

Etymology

Return to muttons may come from old meal habits: after small talk or appetizers, diners would come back to the main dish, the muttons, and to the real business of the meal. That's why it now means 'to resume the main topic or task'.