Donner le ton
Example: Le discours du président a donné le ton pour toute la réunion.
Definition
"Donner le ton" means to set the mood, style, or standard for something, often influencing how subsequent events or actions unfold. For example, in a meeting, if the president's speech gives the tone, it establishes the overall atmosphere and expectations for the discussion.
Etymology
The phrase "donner le ton" literally translates to 'give the tone' in English. It originates from musical terminology where 'ton' refers to pitch or tone, indicating the note to be played or sung. Over time, the expression extended metaphorically to mean setting the standard or mood in various contexts, much like setting the initial tone in music.
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"Donner le ton" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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