apropos of

Idioms and Phrases

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.”

Example Sentences

Timothy Snyder: So, first of all, with the Supreme Court and factuality, apropos of this coming election, one thing that worries me is that their lack of contact with factuality has to do with their own social positioning.

From Slate

During an appearance on The Late Show, when Stephen Colbert asked, apropos of nothing, if she has a favorite novelty flag to display at her home, Jackson laughed and offered a polite “no comment.”

From Slate

When, apropos of nothing, Trump offered the tired canard that Harris wants to “confiscate your guns,” Harris admonished him to his face: “Tim Walz and I are both gun owners,” she said, with an exasperated firmness.

From Los Angeles Times

Those stories are all delivered with a twinkling eye-roll as if to say "Oh that wacky Trump, there he goes again" as if it's just a funny little anecdote, apropos of nothing.

From Salon

Over and over again he kept bringing it up, apropos of nothing, as if on a loop.

From Salon