apropos of

Idioms  

1. 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.”

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Example Sentences

Apparently, if left to its own devices, OpenAI’s Codex coding agent is apt to repeatedly talk about goblins apropos of nothing.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

Its rigorous order and deep perspective, enhanced by the receding lines of ship masts and rail tracks along the expansive quay, address his motif in a style apropos of its modern subject.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

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

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2024

As Bloomberg reported earlier this year apropos of Allegiant, “had the $1.9 billion stadium not been built at all, Las Vegas businesses wouldn’t have noticed the difference.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2024

Suddenly, apropos of nothing beyond what was churning in his head and heart, C.P. said, “I don’t feel comfortable here.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson