à bâtons rompus: suggested translations

broken, chit-chat, free-flowing, free-ranging, have an informal conversation, in fits and starts, intermittent, make casual conversation, make idle conversation, make small talk, on-and-off, talk about everything and nothing, talk about this and that

• j’ai eu l’occasion d’avoir une conversation à bâtons rompus avec elle / I had the opportunity to have an informal conversation with her
• on a eu une conversation à bâtons rompus / we made casual (or idle) conversation
• ils ont causé à bâtons rompus pendant des heures / they talked about everything and nothing for hours
• les deux filles parlaient à bâtons rompus / the two girls were talking about this and that (were chit-chatting, making small talk)

Note: In some instances, the expression à batons rompus may be translated into English by an adjective, as in the following examples:

• j’ai dormi à bâtons rompus hier soir / I had a broken night’s sleep
• les discussions seront ouvertes, franches et à bâtons rompus / discussions will be open, frank and free-flowing (free-ranging)
• la trêve a mis un terme à sept décennies de guerre à bâtons rompus / the truce brought an end to seven decades of on-and-off (intermittent) warfare

Note: In some instances, the expression à batons rompus may be translated into English by an adverb, as in the following example:

• nous avons travaillé sur ce projet à bâtons rompus / we worked on this project in fits and starts