apropos

apropos of (something)

Regarding; with respect to; referring to. From the French à propos, meaning "to purpose." Apropos of the decision reached at this morning's board meeting, I think we should move ahead with the staff reduction directly. And then he just punched Jeremy in the face, apropos of nothing! Mary Ellen's a realtor, so I just sent her this interesting article apropos of housing prices in the area.

See also: apropos, of

apropos of nothing

Of an action or something said, for no reason or with no relation to the immediate conversation, as of a non-sequitur. We were talking about our weekend plans when Ed asked, apropos of nothing, if we could show him how to sew a button. And then he just punched Jeremy in the face, apropos of nothing! I don't blame the kids for being confused—you yelled at them apropos of nothing.

See also: apropos, nothing, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

apropos of

Concerning, in connection with, as in Apropos of keeping in touch, I haven't heard from her in months. This idiom was a borrowing of the French à propos de ("to the purpose of") in the 17th century. At first it was used without of and meant "fitting" or "opportune," as in Their prompt arrival was very appropos. By the 1700s it was also being used with of, as in the current idiom, for "concerning" or "by way of."

See also: apropos, of

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

apropos of nothing

having no relevance to any previous discussion or situation.

See also: apropos, nothing, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017