French Expression · Advanced
Prendre du recul
To take a step back / To gain perspective
Pronunciation: PRANDR dyoo ruh-KYOUL
Meaning
To distance oneself from a situation to analyze it more objectively or to relieve stress.
Example
Avant de décider, il est important de prendre du recul.
Before deciding, it's important to take a step back.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Prendre du recul out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level French expression.