Changer de cap

Expression: Changer de cap

Pronunciation: [sha(n) zay deu kahp]

Meaning: to change tack, course, direction

Register: normal

Notes: The French expression changer de cap means "to change course, alter direction" in all senses. Le cap is literally "tack" or "heading," i.e., the direction of a ship or plane, so the original expression is from navigation, as is the opposite expression tenir son cap - "to maintain direction, keep heading in the same direction."

The figurative meaning is also easy to understand. Here, le cap is any kind of objective (personal, professional, strategic), so changer de cap means to change one's direction/goal, and the opposite is tenir le cap or maintenir le cap - to stick with, continue working toward an objective, to maintain a strategy.

Example
   Évidemment, cette politique ne marche pas. Nous devons changer de cap.
   Obviously this policy isn't working. We need to change our strategy.


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• Expressions with de
• Most common French phrases