de fil en aiguille

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One thing led to another
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/də fil ɑ̃n‿eɡɥij/
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Through a gradual chain of related steps or conversation topics.

Examples

  • De fil en aiguille, nous avons parlé de son enfance.
    One thing led to another, and we talked about her childhood.
  • De fil en aiguille, le projet a grandi.
    Step by step, the project grew.
  • De fil en aiguille, ils sont devenus amis.
    Gradually, they became friends.
  • De fil en aiguille, il a trouvé un emploi.
    One thing led to another, and he found a job.
  • La conversation a dérivé de fil en aiguille.
    The conversation drifted from topic to topic.

Similar words

de proche en proche
peu à peu
progressivement

Meanings

One thing led to another

progression
neutral
Through a gradual chain of related steps or conversation topics.

Examples

  • De fil en aiguille, nous avons parlé de son enfance.
    One thing led to another, and we talked about her childhood.
  • De fil en aiguille, il a trouvé un emploi.
    One thing led to another, and he found a job.
  • La conversation a dérivé de fil en aiguille.
    The conversation drifted from topic to topic.
  • De fil en aiguille, ils sont devenus amis.
    Gradually, they became friends.
  • De fil en aiguille, le projet a grandi.
    Step by step, the project grew.

Similar words

Etymology

Fil désigne le fil à coudre et aiguille l’outil qui le suit : l’expression transpose cette suite au déroulement des événements.

FAQ

What does de fil en aiguille mean?

Through a gradual chain of related steps or conversation topics.

How is de fil en aiguille used?

Often tells how an unplanned result arose.

What is a typical example?

De fil en aiguille, nous avons parlé de son enfance.

What grammatical kind is it?

an idiomatic expression

What nuance does it add?

Each step follows naturally from the last.

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