List of French Expressions in English - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

10/2/2015
ListofFrenchexpressionsinEnglishWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
ListofFrenchexpressionsinEnglish
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
EnglishcontainsmanywordsofFrenchorigin,suchasart,competition,force,machine,money,police,
publicity,role,routine,table,andmanyotheranglicizedFrenchwords.Thesearepronouncedaccordingto
Englishrulesofphonology,ratherthanFrench.Around45%[1]ofEnglishvocabularyisofFrenchorigin,
mostcomingfromtheAngloNormanspokenbytheupperclassesinEnglandforseveralhundredyears
aftertheNormanConquest,beforethelanguagesettledintowhatbecameModernEnglish.
Thisarticle,however,coverswordsandphrasesthatgenerallyenteredthelexiconlater,asthrough
literature,thearts,diplomacy,andotherculturalexchangesnotinvolvingconquests.Assuch,theyhavenot
losttheircharacterasGallicisms,orwordsthatseemunmistakablyforeignand"French"toanEnglish
speaker.
ThephrasesaregivenasusedinEnglish,andmayseemcorrectmodernFrenchtoEnglishspeakers,but
maynotberecognizedassuchbyFrenchspeakersasmanyofthemarenowdefunctorhavedriftedin
meaning.Ageneralruleisthat,ifthewordorphraseretainsFrenchdiacriticsorisusuallyprintedinitalics,
ithasretaineditsFrenchidentity.
FewofthesephrasesarecommonknowledgetoallEnglishspeakers,andforsomeEnglishspeakersmost
arerarelyifeverusedindailyconversation,butforotherEnglishspeakersmanyofthemarearoutinepart
ofboththeirconversationalandtheirwrittenvocabulary.
Contents
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
NotusedassuchinFrenchFoundonlyinEnglishFrenchphrasesininternationalairsearescue
SeealsoReferences
UsedinEnglishandFrench
A
gogo
inabundance.InFrenchthisiscolloquial.
la
inthemannerof/inthestyleof[2]
lacarte
lit."onthemenu"Inrestaurantsitreferstoorderingindividual
dishesratherthanafixedpricemeal.
lamode
idiomatic:inthestyleIntheUnitedStates,thephraseisusedto
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_expressions_in_English
Apritifswithamusegueules
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describeadessertwithanaccompanyingscoopoficecream(example:applepielamode).In
French,italsomeanstrendy.Boeuflamodeforinstanceisa
beefrecipewithale,carrotsandonions.
propos
regarding/concerning(thecorrectFrenchsyntaxisproposde)
accouchement
confinementduringchildbirththeprocessofhavingababyonly
thislattermeaningremainsinFrench
acquiscommunautaire
usedinEuropeanUnionlawtorefertothetotalbodyofEUlaw
accumulatedthusfar.
adieu
Arte
lit."toGod"farewellitcarriesmoreweightthanaurevoir
("goodbye,"literally"untilreseeing").Itisdefinitive,implying
youwillneverseetheotherpersonagain.Dependingonthecontext,misuseofthistermcanbe
consideredasaninsult,asonemaywishfortheotherperson'sdeathorsaythatyoudonotwishto
seetheotherpersoneveragainwhilealive.ItisusedforaurevoirinthesouthofFrance[3]andto
denoteadeprivationfromsomeoneorsomething.
aidedecamp
lit."camphelper"Amilitaryofficerwhoservesasanadjutanttoahigherrankingofficer,princeor
otherhighpoliticaldignitary.
aidemmoire
lit."memoryaid"anobjectormemorandumtoassistinremembrance,oradiplomaticpaper
proposingthemajorpointsofdiscussion
Allonsy!
"Let'sgo!"
Theletter"y"istheplace,asin"ilya"("thereis").
amourpropre
"Selflove",Selfrespect.
amuseboucheoramusegueule
lit."mouthamuser"asingle,bitesizedhorsd'uvre.InFrance,theexactexpressionusedisamuse
gueule,gueulebeingslangformouth(gueuleisthemouthofacarnivorousanimalwhenusedto
describethemouthofahuman,itisvulgar),althoughtheexpressioninitselfisnotvulgar(seealso:
culdesac).
ancienrgime
asociopoliticalorothersystemthatnolongerexists,anallusiontoprerevolutionaryFrance(used
withcapitallettersinFrenchwiththismeaning:AncienRgime)
aperu
previewafirstimpressioninitialinsight.
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apritiforaperitif
lit."[drink]openingtheappetite",abeforemealdrink.[4]IncolloquialFrench,unapritifisusually
shortenedtounapro.
appellationcontrle
superviseduseofaname.Fortheconventionaluseoftheterm,seeAppellationd'originecontrle
appetence
1.Anaturalcravingordesire2.AnattractionoraffinityFromFrenchword"Apptence",derived
from"Apptit"(Appetite).
aprsmoi,ledluge
lit."Afterme,thedeluge",aremarkattributedtoLouisXVofFranceinreferencetotheimpending
endofafunctioningFrenchmonarchyandpredictingtheFrenchRevolution.Itisderivedfrom
MadamedePompadour'saprsnous,ledluge,"afterus,thedeluge".TheRoyalAirForceNo.617
Squadron,famouslyknownasthe"Dambusters",usesthisasitsmotto.
arte
anarrowridge.InFrench,alsofishboneedgeofapolyhedronorgraphbridgeofthenose.
armoire
atypeofcabinetwardrobe.
arrirepense
ulteriormotiveconcealedthought,plan,ormotive.
artnouveau
astyleofdecorationandarchitectureofthelate19thandearly20thcenturies.Ittakesacapitalin
French(Artnouveau).
attach
apersonattachedtoanembassyinFrenchitisalsothepastparticipleoftheverbattacher(=to
fasten,totighten,tobelinked)
AttaqueauFer
anattackontheopponent'sbladeinfencing,e.g.beat,expulsion,pressure.
aucontraire
onthecontrary.
aucourant
uptodateabreastofcurrentaffairs.
aufait
beingconversantinorwith,orinstructedinorwith.InEnglish"bytheway".
augratin
"withgratings",anythingthatisgratedontoafooddish.InEnglish,specifically'withcheese'.
aujus
lit."withjuice",referringtoafoodcourseservedwithsauce.Oftenredundantlyformulated,asin
'Openfacedsteaksandwich,servedwithaujus.'NolongerusedinFrench,exceptforthecolloquial,
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treaujus(tobeinformed).
aunaturel
1.a.Nude.b.Inanaturalstate:anaunaturelhairstyle.2.Cookedsimply.
aupair
ayoungforeignerwhodoesdomesticchoresinexchangeforroomandboard.InFrance,thosechores
aremainlychildcare/education.
aurevoir!
"Seeyoulater!"InFrenchacontractionofAuplaisirdevousrevoir(tothepleasureofseeingyou
again).
avantgarde(pl.avantgardes)
appliedtocuttingedgeorradicallyinnovativemovementsinart,musicandliteraturefiguratively
"ontheedge,"literally,amilitaryterm,meaning"vanguard"(whichisacorruptionofavantgarde)or
"advanceguard,"inotherwords,"firsttoattack"(antonymofarriregarde).
avantlalettre
usedtodescribesomethingorsomeoneseenasaforerunnerofsomething(suchasanartisticor
politicalmovement)beforethatsomethingwasrecognizedandnamed,e.g.,"apostmodernistavant
lalettre,""afeministavantlalettre."Theexpressionliterallymeansbeforetheletter,i.e.,"beforeit
hadaname."TheFrenchmodernformofthisexpressionis"avantl'heure".
avoirdupois
usedinMiddleEnglish,avoirdepois=commoditiessoldbyweight,alterationofOldFrenchaveir
depeis=goodsofweight
B
baguette
along,narrowloafofbreadwithacrispcrust,oftencalled
'Frenchbread'or'Frenchstick'intheUnitedKingdom.In
French,a"baguette"isanylongandnarrow,sticklikeobject.
ballet
atypeofperformancedance,bestknownforitsflowingand
preciseacrobaticmovementsandforfeaturingfemaledancerson
theirtoes.TheFrenchwordinturnhasitsorigininItalian
balletto,adiminutiveofballo(dance)whichcomesfromLatin
ballo,ballare,meaning"todance",[5][6]whichinturncomes
fromtheGreek""(ballizo),"todance,tojump
about".[7][8]
banquette
alongupholsteredbenchorasofa.
Ballet
beaucoupde
UsedinterchangeablywiththeEnglishequivalentof"lotsof/many/agreatnumberof".Appropriate
whenthespeakerwantstoconveyagreaterpositiveconnotationand/orgreateremphasis.Oftenused
asaninformalexpression,mostlyinsmallregionaldialectpocketsintheCanadianPrairiesandthe
AmericanSouth,especiallyinAlbertaandLouisianarespectively.
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beaugeste
lit."beautifulgesture",agraciousgesture,nobleinformbutoftenfutileormeaninglessinsubstance.
ThisFrenchexpressionhasbeenpressingatthedoorofstandardEnglishwithonlypartialsuccess,
sincetheappearanceofP.C.Wren'sBeauGeste(1924),thefirstofhisForeignLegionnovels.[9]
BeauxArts
monumentalarchitecturalstyleoftheearly20thcenturymade
famousbytheAcadmiedesBeauxArts.
belesprit(pl.beauxesprits)
lit."finemind"acultivated,highlyintelligentperson.
belle
abeautifulwomanorgirl.Commonusesofthiswordareinthe
phrasesthebelleoftheball(themostbeautifulwomanorgirl
presentatafunction)andsouthernbelle(abeautifulwoman
fromthesouthernstatesoftheUS)
bricbrac
Bellepoque
aperiodinEuropeansocialhistorythatbeganduringthelate
19thcenturyandlasteduntilWorldWarI.
belleslettres
lit."fineletters"literatureregardedforitsaestheticvaluerather
thanitsdidacticorinformativecontentalso,light,stylish
writings,usuallyonliteraryorintellectualsubjects
bienentendu
wellunderstood,wellknown,obvious"ofcourse"
Brioche
bienpensant
lit."wellthinking"rightthinking,orthodox.Commonlyimplieswillfulblindnesstodangersor
sufferingfacedbyothers.ThenounformbienpensanceisrarelyseeninEnglish.
billetdoux
lit."sweetnote",loveletter[10]
blas
unimpressedwithsomethingbecauseofoverfamiliarity,jaded.
bonapptit
lit."goodappetite"enjoyyourmeal,
bonmot(pl.bonsmots)
wellchosenword(s),particularlyawittyremark("eachbonmotwhichfallsfromhislipsisanalysed
andfiledawayforposterity",TheEuropeanMagazine,29August4September1996)
bonvivant
onewhoenjoysthegoodlife,anepicurean,
bonvoyage
lit."goodjourney"haveagoodtrip!
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boulevard
atypeoflargeroad,usuallyrunningthroughacity.
bourgeois
memberofthebourgeoisie,originallyshopkeeperslivingintownsintheMiddleAges.Nowtheterm
isderogatory,anditappliestoapersonwhosebeliefs,attitudes,andpracticesareconventionally
middleclass.
bouquet
abunchofflowers.
bricbrac
smallornamentalobjects,lessvaluablethanantiquesacollectionofoldfurniture,china,platesand
curiosities.Cf.debricetdebroc,correspondingtoour"byhookorbycrook,"andbrack,refuse.
brioche
asweetyeastbun,kindofacrossoverbetweenapopoverandalightmuffinFrenchalsousetheterm
asslangfor'potbelly',becauseoftheoverhangeffect.
brunette
abrownhairedgirl.Forbrownhairedman,Frenchusesbrunandforawomanbrune.Brunetteis
rarelyusedinFrench.
bureau(pl.bureaux)
officeoriginallymeant"desk"inFrench.
C
anefaitrien
"thatdoesn'tmatter"renderedassanfairyAnninBritishWorld
WarIslang.[11]
cache
acollectionofitemsofthesametypestoredinahiddenor
inaccessibleplace(suchasinanoubliette)
cachet
lit."stamp"adistinctivequalityquality,prestige.
Cafaulait
caf
acoffeeshop(alsousedinFrenchfor"coffee").
cafaulait
coffeewithmilkoralightbrowncolor.Inmedicine,itisalso
usedtodescribeabirthmarkthatisofalightbrowncolor(caf
aulaitspot).
calque
acopiedterm/thing.
Chaiselongue
canard
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('canard'means'duck'inFrench)
1. anunfoundedrumororanecdote.
2. aleadingairfoilattachedtoanaircraftforwardofthemainwing.
3. aslangwordfor'newspaper'.
4. apieceofsugarslighlysousedwithcoffeeorcognac(oranother
strongalcohol).
carteblanche
lit."whitecard"(i.e.blankcheck)unlimitedauthority.
cartedevisite
lit."visitingcard"acallingcard.
Chauffeur
c'estlavie!
"That'slife!"or"Suchislife!"Itissometimesusedasan
expressiontosaythatlifeisharshbutthatonemustacceptit.
ChacunSonGot
"Everyonetohistaste".
chaiselongue
alongchairforreclining.
Champslyses
lit."ElysianFields"AvenuedesChampslyses,oneofthe
broadestboulevardsinParis.Oftenreferredtoassimplyles
Champs.
chanteuse
afemalesinger.[12]
Chignon
chargd'affaires
adiplomatleftinchargeofdaytodaybusinessatadiplomatic
mission.WithintheUnitedStatesDepartmentofStateacharg
isanyofficerleftinchargeofthemissionintheabsenceofthe
titularchiefofmission.
chauffeur
driver.
chefd'uvre
amasterpiece.
cherchezlafemme
"lookfor/seekthewoman,"inthesensethat,whenaman
behavesoutofcharacterorinanotherwiseapparently
inexplicablemanner,thereasonmaybefoundinhistryingto
coverupanillicitaffairwithawoman,ortoimpressorgain
Contrejour
favourwithawoman.Thisexpressionwasfirstusedinanovel
byAlexandreDumas(pre),inthethirdchapterofLesMohicans
deParis(1854),intheformof'cherchonslafemme'(let'slookforthewoman).Theexpressionis
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foundinJohnLatey's1878Englishtranslation:"Ah!MonsieurJackal,youwererightwhenyousaid,
'Seekthewoman.'"Thephrasewasadoptedintoeveryday
EnglishuseandcrossedtheAtlanticby1909.[13]
chez
atthehouseof:oftenusedinthenamesofrestaurantsandthe
likeChezMarie="Marie's".
chic
stylish.
Creperie
chignon
ahairstyleworninarollatthenapeoftheneck.
cinmapur
anavantgardefilmmovementwhichwasborninParisinthe1920sand1930s.
cinmavrit
realismindocumentaryfilmmaking."Vrit"means"truth".
clich
originallyreferredtoaprinter'sblockusedtoreproducetype,comparetheoriginalmeaningof
stereotype.Aphrasethathasbecometritethroughoveruseastereotype.
clique
asmallexclusivegroupoffriendsalwaysusedinapejorativewayinFrench.
cloisonn
anancienttechniquefordecoratingmetalworkobjects.
commandant
acommandingofficer.InFrance,usedforanairlinepilot(lecommandantdebord),intheArmyas
appellativeforachefdebataillonorachefd'escadron(roughlyequivalenttoamajor)orintheNavy
foranyofficerfromcapitainedecorvettetocapitainedevaisseau(equivalenttotheArmy'smajors,
lieutenantcolonelsandcolonels)orforanyofficerheadingaship.
commeci,commealit."likethis,likethat"neithergoodnorbad,soso.
communiqu
lit."communicated"anofficialcommunication.
concierge
areceptionistatahotelorresidence.
concordat
anagreementatreatywhenusedwithacapitalCinFrench,itreferstothetreatybetweenthe
FrenchStateandJudaeoChristianreligionsduringtheFrenchEmpire(Napoleon):priests,ministers
andrabbisbecamecivilservants.Thistreatywasabolishedin1905(lawChurchStateseparation)but
isstillinuseinAlsaceLorraine(thoseterritorieswereunderGermanadministrationduring1871
1918).
confrre(alsoconfrere)
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acolleague,anassociate[14]
contrecoup
againsttheblow.Thisworddescribestherepercussionofaphysicalormentalshock,oranindirect
consequenceofanevent.
contrejour
againstdaylight.Thisword(mostlyusedinartnamelyphotography,cinemaorpainting)describes
thelightthatilluminesanobjectfromtheothersideofyourownpointofview.
contretemps
anawkwardclashadelay.
coquette
aflirtatiousgirlatease.
cordonbleu
acordonbleumayrefertoseveralthings,bothinFrenchandinEnglish:
Apersonwhoexcelsincooking.Anawardgiventosuchaperson.Aninternationalgroupof
hospitalitymanagementandcookingschoolsteachingFrenchcuisine,foundedinFrance.Anescalopeof
veal,chickenorporkstuffedwithhamandcheese,thenbreadedandfried.
cordonsanitaire
apolicyofcontainmentdirectedagainstahostileentityorideologyachainofbufferstateslit.
"quarantineline".
corniche
aroadthatclingslikealedgetothesideofaclifformountain.
cortge
afuneralprocessioninFrenchhasabroadermeaningandreferstoallkindsofprocessions.
coupdefoudre
lit."thunderbolt"("strikeofthunder")asuddenunforeseenevent,usuallyusedtodescribeloveat
firstsight.
coupd'tat
politicalcoup,governmentoverthrow
coupdegrce
thefinalblowthatresultsinvictory(lit."blowofmercy"),historicallyusedinthecontextofthe
battlefieldtorefertothekillingofbadlywoundedenemysoldiers,nowmoreoftenusedina
figurativecontext(e.g.,business).
coupdemain
(lit."ablowwiththehand."),means"helpfromsomeone".
Example:"Besoind'uncoupdemain?"means"Needhelp?"
coupdematre
strokeofthemaster,masterstroke.Thisworddescribesaplannedactionskilfullydone.Seealsotour
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deforcebelow
coupdethtre
adramaticturnofevents.[15]
coupd'il
lit."ablow(ortouch)oftheeye"aglance.
couture
fashion(usuallyreferstohighfashion).
couturier
afashiondesigner(usuallyreferstohighfashion,ratherthaneverydayclothesdesign.InFrench,it
means'tailor'acouturireisaseamstress.
crche
anativitydisplaymorecommonly(intheUnitedKingdom),aplacewherechildrenareleftbytheir
parentsforshortperiodsinthesupervisionofchildmindersbothmeaningsstillexistinFrench.[16]
crmebrle
lit."burntcream"adessertconsistingprimarilyofcustardandtoastedsugar,thatis,caramel.
crmedelacrme
bestofthebest,"creamofthecream,"usedtodescribehighlyskilledpeopleorobjects.A
synonymousexpressioninFrenchisfindufin.
crmefrache
lit."freshcream,"aheavycreamslightlysouredwithbacterialculture,butnotassourorasthickas
sourcreamanddoesnotcurdle.
crpe
athinsweetorsavourypancakeeatenasalightmealordessert.
crperie
atakeawayrestaurantorstall,servingcrpesasaformoffast
foodorstreetfood,ormaybeamoreformalsitdownrestaurant
orcaf.
critique
acriticalanalysisorevaluationofawork,ortheartofcriticizing.
FromLatincriticus,fromAncientGreek(kritikos).
croissant
acrescentshapedbreadmadeofflakypastry.
Culdesac
culdesac
lit."arse[buttocks]ofthebag"adeadendstreet.EventhoughculisvulgarinFrench,this
expressioninitselfisnot(seealsoamusegueule).Equivalenttermsimpasseorvoiesansissueare
alsousedinFrench.
D
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derigueur
requiredorexpected,especiallyinfashionoretiquette.[17]
detrop
unnecessary,unwanted,ormorethanissuitable.
dclass
ofinferiorsocialstatus.
dcollet
awoman'sgarmentwithalowcutnecklinethatexposes
cleavage,orasituationinwhichawoman'schestorcleavageis
exposeddcolletageisdealtwithbelow.
dcor
thelayoutandfurnishingofaroom.
dcoupage
decorationwithcutpaper.
Dressage
demiglace
areducedwinebasedsauceformeatsandpoultry.
demisec
semidry,usuallysaidofwine.
djvu
lit."alreadyseen":animpressionorillusionofhavingseenorexperiencedsomethingbefore.
dnouement
lit."untying":theresolutionofanarrative.
dpanneur
(QuebecEnglish)aconveniencestore.
drailleur
abicyclegearshiftmechanism.
derniercri
lit."latestscream":thelatestfashion.
derrire
lit."behind":rear,buttocks.
dshabill
partiallycladorscantilydressedalsoaspecialtypeofgarment.
dtente
easingofdiplomatictension.
digestif
adigestiveaid,esp.,anafterdinnerdrink,asbrandy.[18]
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directeursportif
lit."sportsdirector".Apersonresponsiblefortheoperationofacyclingteamduringaroadbicycle
race.InFrench,itmeansanykindofsportsdirector.
divertissement
anamusingdiversionentertainment.
dossier
afilecontainingdetailedinformationaboutaperson.[19]InmodernFrenchitcanbeanytypeoffile,
includingacomputerdirectory.Inslang,J'aidesdossierssurtoi("Ihavefilesaboutyou")means
havingmaterialsforblackmail.
doyen
theseniormemberofagroupthefeminineisdoyenne.[20]Alsodean(offaculty,ormedicine).
dressage
aformofcompetitivehorsetraining,inFrenchhasthebroadermeaningoftaminganykindof
animal.
droitduseigneur
lit."rightofthelord":thepurportedrightofalordinfeudaltimestotakethevirginityofoneofhis
vassals'bridesonherweddingnight(inprecedencetohernewhusband).TheFrenchtermforthis
hypotheticalcustomisdroitdecuissage(fromcuisse:thigh).
dujour
lit."oftheday":saidofsomethingfashionableorhipforadayandquicklyforgottentoday'schoice
onthemenu,assoupdujour.[21]
E
eaudeCologne
atypeofperfume,originatinginCologne.ItsItaliancreatorused
aFrenchnametocommercializeit,Cologneatthattimebeing
underthecontrolofFrance.
eaudetoilette
lit."groomingwater."Itusuallyreferstoanaromaticproduct
thatislessexpensivethanaperfumebecauseithaslessofthe
aromaticcompoundsandismoreforaneverydayuse.Cannotbe
shortenedtoeau,whichmeanssomethingelsealtogetherin
French(water).
eaudevie
lit."wateroflife"(cf.Aquavitandwhisky),atypeoffruit
brandy.
cart
acardgamealsoaballetposition.
eaudeCologne
chapp
dancemovementfootposition.
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clair
acreamandchocolateicingpastry.
clat
greatbrilliance,asofperformanceorachievement.Conspicuous
success.Greatacclamationorapplause.[22]
corch
flayedbiologicalgraphicormodelwithskinremoved.
lan
adistinctiveflairorstyle.
lanvital
lit."vitalardor"thevitalforcehypothesizedbyHenriBergson
asasourceofefficientcausationandevolutioninnaturealso
called"lifeforce"
minencegrise
lit."greyeminence":apublicityshypersonwithlittleformal
powerbutgreatinfluenceoverthoseinauthority.
eaudevie
enbanc
courthearingoftheentiregroupofjudgesinsteadofasubset
panel.
enbloc
asagroup.
engarde
"[be]on[your]guard,"usedinfencing,andsometimes
mistranscribedas"onguard."
Entre
enpassant
inpassingtermusedinchess.
enpointe
(inballet)ontiptoe.ThoughusedinFrenchinthissamecontext,
itisnotanexpressionassuch.Apointeistheballetfigurewhere
onestandsontiptoes.Theexpression"enpointe,"though,means
"inanacuteangle,"and,figuratively,itqualifiesthemost
progressiveormodernthings(ideas,industry).
enroute
ontheway
Enpleinair
enfantterrible
lit."terriblechild"adisruptivelyunconventionalperson.
ennui
Agrippinglistlessnessormelancholiacausedbyboredomdepression
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entente
diplomaticagreementorcooperation.L'Ententecordiale(theCordialEntente)referstothegood
diplomaticrelationshipbetweenFranceandUnitedKingdombeforethefirstWorldWar.
entrenous
lit."betweenus"confidentially.
entre
lit."entrance"thefirstcourseofameal(UKEnglish)usedto
denotethemaindishorcourseofameal(USEnglish).
entremets
desserts/sweetdishes.Moreliterally,asidedishthatcanbe
servedbetweenthecoursesofameal.
entrepreneur
apersonwhoundertakesandoperatesanewenterpriseor
ventureandassumessomeaccountabilityfortheinherentrisks.
embonpoint
aplump,hourglassfigure.
paterlabourgeoisieorpaterlebourgeois
lit."toshockthemiddleclasses,"[23]arallyingcryfortheFrench
Decadentpoetsofthelate19thcenturyincludingCharles
BaudelaireandArthurRimbaud.[24][25]
enpointe
escargot
snailinEnglish,usedonlyasaculinaryterm.
espritdecorps
lit."spiritofthebody[group]":afeelingofsolidarityamongmembersofagroupmorale.Oftenused
inconnectionwithamilitaryforce.
espritdel'escalier
lit."witofthestairs"aconcise,cleverstatementyouthinkoftoolate,thatis,onthestairsleaving
thescene.TheexpressionwascreatedbyFrenchphilosopherDenisDiderot.Veryrarelyusedin
French.
l'tat,c'estmoi!
lit."Iamthestate!"attributedtothearchetypalabsolutemonarch,LouisXIVofFrance.
tude
amusicalcompositiondesignedtoprovidepracticeinaparticulartechnicalskillintheperformance
ofaninstrument.Frenchfor"study."
tui
smallornamentalcaseforneedlesorcosmetics.
excusezmoi
"Excuseme".
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extraordinaire
extraordinary,usuallyasafollowingadjective,as"musicianextraordinaire."
F
faade
thefrontviewofanedifice(fromtheItalianfacciata,orface)afakepersona,asin"puttingona
faade"(theispronouncedlikeans)
faitaccompli
Seealso:FaitAccompli(disambiguation)
lit."accomplishedfact"somethingthathasalreadyhappenedandisthusunlikelytobereversed,adone
deal.[26]InFrenchusedonlyintheexpressionplacer/mettrequelqu'undevantlefaitaccomplimeaningto
presentsomebodywithafaitaccompli.Alsoseepointofnoreturn.
fautedemieux
forwantofbetter.
faux
false,ersatz,fake.
fauxpas
lit."falsestep":violationofaccepted,althoughunwritten,socialrules.[27]
femmefatale
lit."deadlywoman":anattractivewomanwhoseducesandtakesadvantageofmenforherpersonal
goals,afterwhichshediscardsorabandonsthem.Itextendstodescribeanattractivewomanwith
whomarelationshipislikelytoresult,orhasalreadyresulted,inpainandsorrow.[28]
feuilleton
lit."littleleafofpaper":aperiodical,orpartofaperiodical,consistingchieflyofnonpoliticalnews
andgossip,literatureandartcriticism,achronicleofthelatestfashions,andepigrams,charadesand
otherliterarytrifles.
fianc(e)
betrothedlit.aman/womanengagedtobemarried.
filmnoir
Lit."blackfilm":agenreofdarkthemedmoviesfromthe1940sand1950sthatfocusonstoriesof
crimeandimmorality.
fils
lit."son":usedafteraman'ssurnametodistinguishasonfromafather,asAlexandreDumas,fils.
flamb
acookingprocedureinwhichalcohol(ethanol)isaddedtoahotpantocreateaburstofflames,
meaning"flamed"inFrench.Alsousedcolloquiallyinreferencetosomethingonfireorburned.
flambeau
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alittorch.
flneur
agentlemanstrollerofcitystreetsanaimlessidler.
fleurdelis
astylizedflowerheraldicdevicethegoldenfleurdelisonan
azurebackgroundwerethearmsoftheFrenchKingdom(often
spelledwiththeoldFrenchstyleas"fleurdelys").
fleurdesel
lit."flowerofsalt,"handharvestedseasaltcollectedbyworkers
whoscrapeonlythetoplayerofsaltbeforeitsinkstothebottom
oflargesaltpans.Isoneofthemoreexpensivesaltstraditional
FrenchfleurdeseliscollectedoffthecoastofBrittanymost
notablyinthetownofGurande(FleurdeSeldeGurande
beingthemostrevered),butalsoinNoirmoutier,ledeRand
Camargue.
foiegras
fattyliverusuallytheliverofoverfedgoose,hence:ptdefoie
gras,ptmadefromgooseliver.
foliedeux
asimultaneousoccurrenceofdelusionsintwocloselyrelated
people,oftensaidofanunsuitableromance.Inclinical
psychology,thetermisusedtodescribepeoplewhoshare
schizophrenicdelusions.Thederivedformsfolietrois,folie
quatre,folieenfamilleorevenfolieplusieursdonotexistin
Frenchwhere"collectivehysterics"isused.
Fleurdelis
forcemajeure
anoverpoweringandunforeseeableevent,especiallywhen
talkingaboutweather(oftenappearsininsurancecontracts).
forte
Lit."strongpoint"(ofasword).Strength,expertise,one'sstrong
point.
Fleurdesel
froideur
coldness(forbehaviorandmannersonly).
G
gaffe
blunder
garon
Foiegras
lit."boy"or"maleservant"sometimesusedbyEnglishspeakers
tosummontheattentionofamalewaiter(hasaplayful
connotationinEnglishbutiscondescendingandpossiblyoffensiveinFrench).
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gauche
lit."left".Clumsy,tactless.
gaucherie
boorishness,clumsiness.
gendarme
amemberofthegendarmeriecolloquially,apoliceman
gendarmerie
amilitarybodychargedwithpoliceduties
genre
atypeorclass,suchas"thethrillergenre".
Gendarmes
gte
furnishedvacationcottagetypicallyinruralFrance.
glissade
slidedownaslope.
GrandPrix
lit."GreatPrize"atypeofmotorracing.
GrandPrix.
GrandGuignol
ahorrorshow,namedafteraFrenchtheaterfamousforits
frighteningplaysandbloodyspecialeffects.(Guignolcanbeusedin
Frenchtodescribearidiculousperson,inthesamewaythatclown
mightbeusedinEnglish.)
grenadier
aspecializedsoldier,firstestablishedforthethrowingofgrenades
andlateraselitetroops.
H
habitu
onewhoregularlyfrequentsaplace.[29]
hautecouture
lit."highsewing":Parisbasedcustomfittedclothingtrendsetting
fashion
hautecole
lit."highschool":advancedhorsemanship.
hauteur
lit."height":arrogance.[30]
Grenadier
hautmonde
lit.the"highworld":fashionablesociety.
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Honisoitquimalypense
"Shamedbehewhothinksillofit"orsometimestranslatedas"Evilbetohimwhoevilthinks"the
mottooftheEnglishOrderoftheGarter(modernFrenchwrites
honniinsteadofOldFrenchhoniandwouldphrase"quienpense
dumal"insteadof"quimalypense").
horsdecombat
lit."outofthefight":preventedfromfightingorparticipatingin
someevent,usuallybyinjury.
horsconcours
lit."outofcompetition":nottobejudgedwithothersbecauseof
thesuperiorityoftheworktotheothers.
horsd'uvre
lit."outsidethe[main]work":appetizer.
I
idefixe
lit."fixedidea":obsessioninmusic,aleitmotiv.
Hautecouture
impasse
asituationofferingnoescape,asadifficultywithoutsolution,an
argumentwherenoagreementispossible,etc.adeadlock.[31]
ingnu(e)
aninnocentyoungman/woman,usedparticularlyinreferenceto
atheatricalstockcharacterwhoisentirelyvirginaland
wholesome.L'IngnuisafamousnovellawrittenbyVoltaire.
J
j'accuse
"Iaccuse"usedgenerallyinreferencetoapoliticalorsocial
indictment(alludingtothetitleofmileZola'sexposofthe
Dreyfusaffair,apoliticalscandalthatdividedFrancefromthe
1890stotheearly1900s(decade)andinvolvedthefalse
convictionfortreasonin1894ofAlfredDreyfus,ayoungFrench
artilleryofficerofJewishbackground).
Ingnue
j'adoube
Inchess,anexpression,saiddiscreetly,thatsignalstheintentiontostraightenthepieceswithout
committingtomoveorcapturingthefirstonetouchedasperthegame'sruleslit."Iadjust,"from
adouber,todub(theactionofknightingsomeone).
jeneregretterien
"Iregretnothing"(fromthetitleofapopularsongsungbydithPiaf:Non,jeneregretterien).Also
thephrasetheUK'sthenChancelloroftheExchequerNormanLamontchosetousetodescribehis
feelingsovertheeventsofSeptember16,1992('BlackWednesday').
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jenesaisquoi
lit."Idon'tknowwhat":anindescribableorindefinable'something'thatdistinguishestheobjectin
questionfromothersthataresuperficiallysimilar.
jeud'esprit
lit."playofspirit":awitty,oftenlighthearted,commentorcomposition
jeunessedore
lit."gildedyouth"namegiventoabodyofyoungdandies,alsocalledtheMuscadins,who,afterthe
fallofRobespierre,foughtagainsttheJacobins.Todayusedforyouthfuloffspring,particularlyif
bullyingandvandalistic,oftheaffluent.[32]
joiedevivre
"joyoflife/living".
L
l'appelduvide
lit."callofthevoid"usedtorefertointellectualsuicidalthoughts,ortheurgetoengageinself
destructive(suicidal)behaviorsduringeverydaylife.Examplesincludethinkingaboutswervinginto
theoppositelanewhiledriving,orfeelingtheurgetojumpoffacliffedgewhilestandingonit.These
thoughtsarenotaccompaniedbyemotionaldistress.
lacit
separationoftheStateandthedifferentChurches(atfirst,itconcernedespeciallyCatholicism).In
France,wheretheconceptoriginated,itmeansanabsenceofreligiousinterferenceingovernment
affairsandgovernmentinterferenceinreligiousaffairs.Buttheconceptisoftenassimilatedand
changedbyothercountries.Forexample,inBelgium,itusuallymeansthesecularhumanist
movementandschoolofthought.
laissezfaire
lit."letdo"oftenusedwithinthecontextofeconomicpolicyorpoliticalphilosophy,meaning
leavingalone,ornoninterference.ThephraseistheshortcutofLaissezfaire,laissezpasser,a
doctrinefirstsupportedbythePhysiocratsinthe18thcentury.ThemottowasinventedbyVincentde
Gournay,anditbecamepopularamongsupportersoffreetradeandeconomicliberalism.Itisalso
usedtodescribeaparentalstyleindevelopmentalpsychology,wheretheparent(s)doesnotapply
rulesorguiding.Aspertheparentalstyle,itisnowoneofthemajormanagementstyles.
laissezpasser
atraveldocument,apassport
laissezlesbonstempsrouler
Cajunexpressionfor"letthegoodtimesroll":notusedinproperFrench,andnotgenerally
understoodbyFrancophonesoutsideLouisiana,whowouldsayprofitezdesbonsmoments(enjoythe
goodmoments).
lam
atypeoffabricwovenorknitwithmetallicyarns.
lanternerouge
thelastplacefinisherinacyclingstageracemostcommonlyusedinconnectionwiththeTourde
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France.
lsemajest
anoffenseagainstasovereignpoweror,anattackagainstsomeone'sdignityoragainstacustomor
institutionheldsacred(fromtheLatincrimenlaesaemaiestatis:thecrimeofinjuredmajesty).
liaison
acloserelationshiporconnectionanaffair.TheFrenchmeaningisbroaderliaisonalsomeans
"bond"'suchasinuneliaisonchimique(achemicalbond)
lingerie
atypeoffemaleunderwear.
littrateur
anintellectual(canbepejorativeinFrench,meaningsomeonewhowritesalotbutdoesnothavea
particularskill).[33]
louche
ofquestionabletaste,butalsosomeoneorsomethingthatarousessomebody'ssuspicions.[34]
LouisQuatorze
"LouisXIV"(ofFrance),theSunKing,usuallyareferencetodcororfurnituredesign.Alsothe
namesakeofthewinnerofthe1996Preakness.
LouisQuinze
"LouisXV"(ofFrance),associatedwiththerococostyleoffurniture,architectureandinterior
decoration
M
macram
coarselaceworkmadewithknottedcords.
madame
awomanbrothelkeeper(Fowler'sModernEnglishUsage,3rd
edition,p.475).[35]InFrench,atitleofrespectforanolderor
marriedwoman(literally"mylady").
mademoiselle
lit."mynobleyounglady":youngunmarriedlady,miss.
malaise
ageneralsenseofdepressionorunease.
mangetout
anotherphrasedescribing'peas'(lit."Eatall,"becausesomepeas
canbecookedandeatenwiththeirpod.)
Macram
manqu
unfulfilledfailed.
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Mardigras
FatTuesday,thelastdayofeatingmeatbeforeLent.
marque
amodelorbrand.
matriel
suppliesandequipment,particularlyinamilitarycontext(French
meaningisbroaderandcorrespondsmoreto"hardware")
mauvaisquartd'heure
lit."badquarterhour":ashortunpleasantoruncomfortable
moment.
mlange
amixture.
mle
aconfusedfightastrugglingcrowd.
Mangetout
mnagetrois
lit."householdforthree":asexualarrangementbetweenthree
people.[36]
mtier
afieldofworkorotheractivityusuallyoneinwhichonehas
specialabilityortraining.
milieu
socialenvironmentsetting(hasalsothemeaningof"middle"in
French.)
milieuintrieur
theextracellularfluidenvironment,anditsphysiological
capacitytoensureprotectivestabilityforthetissuesandorgans
ofmulticellularlivingorganisms.
Mardigras
mirepoix
acookingmixtureoftwopartsonionsandoneparteachofceleryandcarrots.
miseenplace
anassemblyofingredients,usuallysetupinsmallbowls,usedtofacilitatecooking.Thismeansall
therawingredientsarepreparedandreadytogobeforecooking.Translated,"putinplace."
miseenscne
theprocessofsettingastagewithregardtoplacementofactors,scenery,properties,etc.thestage
settingorsceneryofaplaysurroundings,environment.
miseentable
tablesetting.
montage
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editing.
lemotjuste
lit."thejustword"therightwordattherighttime.Frenchusesitoftenintheexpressionchercherle
motjuste(tosearchfortherightword).
motif
arecurrentthematicelement.
moue
apursingtogetherofthelipstoindicatedissatisfaction,apout.
mousse
awhippeddessertorahairstylingfoaminFrench,meansanytypeoffoam
N
n,ne
lit."born":aman's/woman'sbirthname(maidennameforawoman),e.g.,"MarthaWashington,ne
Dandridge."
n'estcepas?
"isn'tit[true]?"askedrhetoricallyafterastatement,asin"Right?".
noblesseoblige
"nobilityobliges"thosegrantedahigherstationinlifehaveadutytoextend(possiblytoken)
favours/courtesiestothoseinlowerstations.
nomdeguerre
pseudonymtodisguisetheidentityofaleaderofamilitantgroup,literally"warname,"usedin
Francefor"pseudonym".[37]
nomdeplume
originallya"backtranslation"fromtheEnglish"penname":author'spseudonym.
nouveau(pl.nouveauxfem.nouvellefem.pl.nouvelles)
new.
nouveauriche
lit."newlyrich",usedtoreferparticularlytothoselivingagarishlifestylewiththeirnewfound
wealthseealsoarrivisteandparvenu.
nouvellevague
lit."newwave."Usedforstatinganewwayoranewtrendofsomething.Originallymarkedanew
styleofFrenchfilmmakinginthelate1950sandearly1960s,reactingagainstfilmsseenastoo
literary.
O
objetd'art
aworkofart,commonlyapaintingorsculpturealsoautilitarianobjectdisplayedforitsaesthetic
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qualities
objettrouv
anordinaryobject,asapieceofdriftwood,ashell,oramanufacturedarticle,thatistreatedasan
objectofartbyonewhofindsitaestheticallypleasing.[38]
uvre
"work,"inthesenseofanartist'sworkbyextension,anartist'sentirebodyofwork.
omelette
dishmadefrombeateneggscookedquicklyinapan.
oprabouffe
comedy,satire,parodyorfarce.
outr
exceedingthelinesofproprietyeccentricinbehaviororappearanceinaninappropriateway
P
painauchocolat
lit."chocolatebread".Unlikethatwhichitsnamemaysuggest,
it'snotmadeofbreadbutpuffpastrywithchocolateinside.The
termchocolatineisusedinsomeFrancophoneareas(especially
theSouthWest)andsometimesinEnglish.
painauxraisins
raisinbread.
panache
verveflamboyance.
Painauchocolat
papiermch
lit."chewedpaper"acraftmediumusingpaperandpaste.
paravion
byaircraft.InEnglish,specificallybyairmail,fromthephrase
foundonairmailenvelopes.
parexcellence
betterthanalltheothers,quintessential.[39]
Parkour
parcferm
lit."closedpark".AsecureareaataGrandPrixcircuitwherethecarsmaybestoredovernight.
parkour
urbanstreetsportinvolvingclimbingandleaping,usingbuildings,walls,curbstoricochetoffmuch
asifonewereonaskateboard,ofteninfollowtheleaderstyle.Originallyaphoneticformofthe
Frenchwordparcours,whichmeans"run."Alsoknownas,orthepredecessorto,"freerunning",
developedbySbastienFoucan.
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parole
1)(inlinguistics)speech,morespecificallytheindividual,personalphenomenonoflanguagesee
langueandparole.2)(incriminaljustice)conditionalearlyreleasefromprisonseeparole.
parvenu
asocialupstart.
pasdedeux
lit."stepfortwo"inballet,adanceorfigurefortwoperformers,aduetalsoacloserelationship
betweentwopeople.[40]
pasdetrois
lit."stepforthree"inballet,adanceorfigureforthree
performers.
passepartout
adocumentorkeythatallowstheholdertotravelwithout
hindrancefromtheauthoritiesorenteranylocation.
pastiche
aderivativeworkanimitation.
patois
adialectjargon.[41]
Pincenez
pre
lit."father",usedafteraman'ssurnametodistinguishafather
fromason,asinAlexandreDumas,pre.
peloton
incycling,themaingroupofridersinaroadrace.
petitebourgeoisie
oftenanglicisedas"pettybourgeoisie",usedtodesignatethemiddleclass.
lapetitemort
lit."thelittledeath"anexpressionfororgasm.
PiedNoir
lit."blackfoot,"aEuropeanAlgerianinthepreindependencestate.
piedterre(alsopiedterre)
lit."footontheground"aplacetostay,generallyappliedtothecityhouseasopposedtothecountry
estateofthewealthy.[42]
pincenez
lit."nosepincher",atypeofspectacleswithouttemplearms.
piste
lit."trail"or"track"oftenusedreferringtoskiingataskiarea(onpiste)versusskiingintheback
country(offpiste).
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plage
beach,especiallyafashionableseasideresort.
platdujour
lit."dishoftheday"adishservedinarestaurantonaparticulardaybutseparatefromtheregular
menu.
plongeur(fem.plongeuse)
amale(orfemale)dishwasher.
plusachange,plusc'estlammechose(orplusachange,plusc'estpareil)(oftenabbreviatedto
justplusachange)
themorethingschange,themoretheystaythesame.
pointd'appui
alocationwheretroopsassemblepriortoabattle.Whilethisfigurativemeaningalsoexistsin
French,thefirstandliteralmeaningof"pointd'appui"isafixedpointfromwhichapersonorthing
executesamovement(suchasafootinginclimbingorapivot).
portecochre
anarchitecturaltermreferringtoakindofporchorporticolikestructure.
poseur
lit."poser":apersonwhopretendstobesomethingheisnotanaffectedorinsincerepersona
wannabe.
potaufeu
stew,soup.
pourencouragerlesautres
lit."toencourageothers"saidofanexcessivepunishmentmetedoutasanexample,todeterothers.
TheoriginalisfromVoltaire'sCandideandreferredtotheexecutionofAdmiralJohnByng.[43]
pourboire
lit."fordrink"gratuity,tipdonnerunpourboire:totip.
prairie
lit."meadow"expansivenaturalmeadowsoflonggrass.
prtporter
lit."readytowear"clothingofftheshelf,incontrasttohautecouture.
priedieu
lit."pray[to]God"atypeofprayerdesk.
prixfixe
lit."fixedprice"amenuonwhichmulticoursemealswithonlyafewchoicesarechargedatafixed
price.
protg(e)
lit."protected"aman/womanwhoreceivessupportfromaninfluentialmentor.[44]
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provocateur
anagitator,apolemicist.
Q
Quaid'Orsay
addressoftheFrenchforeignministryinParis,usedtorefertotheministryitself.
Quatorzejuillet
"14thofJuly,"usuallycalledBastilleDayinEnglish.ThebeginningoftheFrenchRevolutionin
1789usedtorefertotheRevolutionitselfanditsideals.ItistheFrenchNationalDay.
quellehorreur!
Whatahorriblething!(canbeusedsarcastically).
R
raconteur
astoryteller.[45]
raisond'tre
"reasonforbeing":justificationorpurposeofexistence.
rapport
tobeinsomeone's"goodgraces"tobeinsynchwithsomeone
"I'vedevelopedarapportwithmycoworkers"Frenchfor:
relationship.
Roux
rapprochement
theestablishmentofcordialrelations,oftenusedindiplomacy.[46]
reconnaissance
scoutinglikeconnoisseur.ModernFrenchusesan"a,"nevera"o"(asinreconnoissance).InFrench,
italsomeans'gratitude'.
renaissance
lit."rebirth",areintroductionofsomethingpreviouslydeemedoutdatedinparticular,acultural
movementinthe1417thcenturiesmarkedbyareturntoclassicalaesthetics.
rpertoire
astockofplays,dances,orpiecesthatacompanyoraperformerknowsorispreparedtoperformthe
wholebodyofitemsthatareregularlyperformed.
reportage
reportingjournalism.
rpondezs'ilvousplat.(RSVP)
Pleasereply.Thoughfrancophonesmayusemoreusually"prirederpondre,"itiscommonenough.
restaurateur
arestaurantowner.[47]
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riposte
aquickretortinspeechoraction,orinfencing,aquickthrustafterparryingalunge.[48]
RiveGauche
theleft(southern)bank(oftheRiverSeineinParis).Aparticularmindsetattributedtoinhabitantsof
thatarea,whichincludestheSorbonne
roifainant
lit."donothingking":anexpressionfirstusedaboutthekingsofFrancefrom670to752(ThierryIII
toChildericIII),whowerepuppetsoftheirministers.Thetermwaslaterusedaboutotherroyalty
whohadbeenmadepowerless,alsoinothercountries,butlostitsmeaningwhenparliamentarism
madeallroyalspowerless.
rle
apartorfunctionofapersoninasituationoranactorinaplay.
romanclef
lit."novelwithakey":anaccountofactualpersons,placesoreventsinfictionalguise.[49]
rou
anopenlydebauched,lecherousolderman.
roux
acookedmixtureofflourandmeltedbutter(orotherfat)usedasabaseinsoupsandgravies.
S
sabotage
subversivedestruction,fromthepracticeofworkersfearfulofindustrializationdestroyingmachines
bytossingtheirsabots("woodenshoes")intomachinery.
saboteur
onewhocommitssabotage
sangfroid
lit."coldblood":coolnessandcomposureunderstrainstiffupperlip.Alsopejorativeinthephrase
meurtredesangfroid("coldbloodedmurder").
sans
without.[50]
sansculottes
lit."withoutkneebreeches,"anametheinsurgentcrowdinthestreetsofParisgavetoitselfduring
theFrenchRevolution,becausetheyusuallyworepantaloons(fulllengthpantsortrousers)insteadof
thechickneelengthculotteofthenobles.Inmodernuse:holdingstrongrepublicanviews.
saut
lit."jumped",fromthepastparticipleoftheverbsauter(tojump),whichcanbeusedasanadjective
oranounquicklyfriedinasmallamountofoil,stirfried.ex:sautofveau.
savant
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lit."knowing":awiseorlearnedpersoninEnglish,oneexceptionallygiftedinanarrowskill.
savoirfaire
lit."knowhowtodo"torespondappropriatelytoanysituation.
savoirvivre
factoffollowingconventionalnormswithinasocietyetiquette(etiquettealsocomesfromaFrench
word,tiquette).
silhouette
theimageofaperson,anobjectorsceneconsistingoftheoutlineandafeaturelessinterior,withthe
silhouettedobjectusuallybeingblack.
sobriquet
anassumedname,anickname(oftenusedinapejorativewayinFrench).[51]
soidisant
lit."oneselfsaying"socalledselfdescribed.
soign
fashionablepolished.
soire
aneveningparty.
sommelier
awinesteward.
soupon
averysmallamount(InFrench,canalsomeansuspicion)
soupedujour
lit."soupoftheday",meaningtheparticularkindofsoupofferedthatday.
succsd'estime
lit."successofesteem"[criticalsuccess],sometimesusedpejoratively.[52]
T
tableau
chalkboard.ThemeaningisbroaderinFrench:alltypesofboard
(chalkboard,whiteboard,noticeboard).Refersalsotoa
painting(seetableauvivant,below)oratable(chart).
tableauvivant
lit."livingpicture"thetermdescribesastrikinggroupof
suitablycostumedactorsorartist'smodels,carefullyposedand
oftentheatricallylit.
tenn
Tableauvivant
orangebrown,"rust"colour,notcommonlyusedoutsideheraldic
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emblazoning.
ttette
lit."headtohead"anintimategettogetherorprivateconversationbetweentwopeople.
toilette
theprocessofdressingorgrooming.AlsorefersinFrench,whenplural(lestoilettes),tothetoilet
room.
torsadesdepointes
meaning"twistingaroundapoint,"usedtodescribeaparticulartypeofheartrhythm.
touch
lit."touched"or"hit!":acknowledgmentofaneffectivecounterpointorverbalripostecomesfrom
terminologyinthesportoffencing.NotunderstandableinmodernFrench,as"touch"means
"emotionallytouched".
tourdeforce(alsotourdeforce)
lit."featofstrength":amasterlyorbrilliantstroke,creation,effect,oraccomplishment.[53][54]
toutcourt
lit."allshort":typicallyusedinphilosophytomean"nothingelse",incontrasttoamoredetailedor
extravagantalternative.Forinstance,"Kantdoesnotbelievethatmoralityderivesfrompractical
reasonasappliedtomoralends,butfrompracticalreasontoutcourt".
toutdesuite
rightnow.Oftenmangledas"tootsweet".
tranche
lit."slice":oneofseveraldifferentclassesofsecuritiesinvolvedasinglefinancialtransaction.[55]
triage
duringamedicalemergencyordisaster,theprocessofdeterminingthepriorityofmedicaltreatment
ortransportationbasedontheseverityofthepatient'scondition.
tricoteuse
awomanwhoknitsandgossipsfromthewomenwhoknitted
andsewedwhilewatchingexecutionsofprisonersoftheFrench
Revolution.
trompel'il
lit."tricktheeye"photographicrealisminfineartpaintingor
decorativepaintinginahome.
troudeloup
lit."wolfhole"akindofboobytrap.
Troudeloup
V
vaetvient
lit."goesandcomes"thecontinualcomingandgoingofpeopletoandfromaplace.[56]
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venu(e)
aninvitedman/womanforashow,or"onewhohascome"thetermisunusedinmodernFrench,
thoughitcanstillbeheardinafewexpressionslikebienvenu/e(literally"wellcome":welcome)orle
premiervenu(anyoneliterally,"thefirstwhocame").
vindepays
lit."countrywine"wineofalowerdesignatedqualitythanappellationcontrle.
vinaigrette
diminutiveofvinaigre(vinegar):saladdressingofoiland
vinegar.
visvis(alsovisavis)
lit."facetoface[with]":incomparisonwithorinrelationto
opposedto.Fromvis,anobsoletewordfor"face",replacedby
visageincontemporaryFrench.[57]InFrench,thisisalsoareal
estatevocabularyword,meaningthatyourwindowsandyour
neighbours'arewithinsightingdistance(moreprecisely,thatyou
canseeinsideoftheirhome).
Saladwithvinaigrettedressing
vive[]!
"Longlive!"lit."Live"asin"VivelaFrance!",VivelaRpublique!,VivelaRsistance!,Vive
leCanada!,orViveleQubeclibre!(longlivefreeQuebec,asovereigntistsloganfamouslyusedby
FrenchPresidentCharlesdeGaullein1967inMontreal).Unlikeviva(ItalianandSpanish)orvivat
(Latin),itcannotbeusedaloneitneedsacomplement.
viveladiffrence!
lit."[long]livethedifference"originallyreferringtothedifferencebetweenthesexesthephrase
maybealsousedtocelebratethedifferencebetweenanytwogroupsofpeople(orsimplythegeneral
diversityofindividuals).
voil!
lit."seethere"inFrenchitcanmeansimply"thereitis"inEnglishitisgenerallyrestrictedtoa
triumphantrevelation.
volteface
frenchifiedformofItalianvoltafaccia,lit."turnface",anaboutface,amaneuverinmarching
figuratively,acompletereversalofopinionorposition.
voulezvouscoucheravecmoi(cesoir)?
"Doyouwanttosleepwithme(tonight)?"InFrench,coucherisvulgarinthissense.InEnglishit
appearsinTennesseeWilliams'splayAStreetcarNamedDesire,aswellasinthelyricsofapopular
songbyLabelle,"LadyMarmalade."
voyeur
lit."someonewhosees"aPeepingTom.[58]
Z
zutalors!
"Darnit!"ortheBritishexpression"Blimey!"Thisisageneralexclamation(vulgarequivalentis
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merdealors!"Damnit!").Justplainzutisalsoinuse,oftenrepeatedforeffect:zut,zutetzut!There
isanalbumbyFrankZappa,punninglytitledZootAllures.ThephraseisalsousedontheSaturday
NightLiveWeekendUpdatesketchbyrecurringcharacterJeanK.Jean,playedbyKenanThompson.
NotusedassuchinFrench
Throughtheevolutionofthelanguage,manywordsandphrasesarenolongerusedinmodernFrench.Also
thereareexpressionsthat,eventhoughgrammaticallycorrect,donothavethesamemeaninginFrenchas
theEnglishwordsderivedfromthem.SomeolderwordusagesstillappearinQuebecFrench.
accoutrement
personalmilitaryorfightingarmamentswornaboutone'sselfhascometomeantheaccompanying
itemsavailabletopursueamission,orjustaccessoriesingeneral.InFrench,meansafunnyor
ridiculousclothingoftenaweirddisguiseoragetup,thoughitcanbesaidalsoforpeoplewithbad
tasteinclothing.
agentprovocateur
apolicespywhoinfiltratesagrouptodisruptordiscreditit.InFrenchithasbothabroaderandmore
specificmeaning.TheAcadmiefranaise,initsdictionary,saysthatanagentprovocateurisa
personworkingforanotherStateorapoliticalparty(forexample),whosemissionistoprovoke
troublesinordertojustifyrepression.
appliqu
aninlaidorattacheddecorativefeature.Lit."applied,"thoughthismeaningdoesn'texistassuchin
French,thedictionaryoftheAcadmiefranaiseindicatesthatinthecontextofthearts,"arts
appliqus"issynonymofdecorativearts.
aprsski
afterskiingsocializingafteraskisessioninFrench,thiswordreferstobootsusedtowalkinsnow
(e.g.MoonBoots).
artiste
askilledperformer,apersonwithartisticpretensions.InFrench:anartist.Canbeusedironicallyfor
apersondemonstratinglittleprofessionalskillorpassion.
arrtbontemps
Acounterattackthatattemptstotakeadvantageofanuncertainattackinfencing.Though
grammaticallycorrect,thisexpressionisnotusedinFrench.Theterm"arrt"existsinfencing,with
themeaningofa"simplecounteroffensiveaction"thegeneralmeaningis"astop."AFrench
expressionisclose,though:"s'arrtertemps"(tostopintime).
auteur
Afilmdirector,specificallyonewhocontrolsmostaspectsofafilm,orothercontrollerofanartistic
situation.TheEnglishconnotationderivesfromFrenchfilmtheory.Itwaspopularizedinthejournal
Cahiersducinma:auteurtheorymaintainsthatdirectorslikeHitchcockexertalevelofcreative
controlequivalenttotheauthorofaliterarywork.InFrench,thewordmeansauthor,butsome
expressionslike"cinmad'auteur"arealsoinuse.
aunaturel
nudeinFrench,literally,inanaturalmannerorway(auisthecontractionofle,masculineformof
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la).Itmeans"inanunalteredway"andcanbeusedeitherforpeopleorthings.Forpeople,itrather
referstoapersonwhodoesnotusemakeuporartificialmanners(unentretienaunaturel=a
backstageinterview).Forthings,itmeansthattheyhavenotbeenaltered.Oftenusedincooking,like
thonaunaturel:cannedtunawithoutanyspicesoroil.Alsoinheraldry,meaning"innatural
colours,"especiallyfleshcolour,whichisnotoneofthe"standard"coloursofheraldry.
lamode
fashionableorwithicecream(intheUS),orwithcheese(insomeUSregions).InFrench,itmainly
means"fashionable"butisoccasionallyaculinarytermusuallymeaningsomethingcookedwith
carrotsandonions,asinboeuflamode.
btenoire
ascaryorunpopularperson,idea,orthing,orthearchetypicalscarymonsterinastoryliterally
"blackbeast."InFrench,trelabtenoiredequelqu'un("tobesomebody'sblackbeast")meansthat
you'reparticularlyhatedbythispersonorthispersonhasastrongaversionagainstyou,regardlessof
whetheryou'rescaryornot.ThedictionaryoftheAcadmiefranaiseadmitsitsuseonlyforpeople,
thoughotherdictionariesadmitsitforthingsorideastoo.Italsomeansthatoneisrepeatedly
defeatedbyaperson(forinstance,"NadalisthebetenoireofRogerFederer").ColloquialinFrench.
boutique
aclothingstore,usuallysellingdesigner/oneoffpiecesratherthanmassproducedclothes.Canalso
describeaquirkyand/orupmarkethotel.InFrench,itcandescribeanyshop,clothingorotherwise.
boutonnire
InEnglish,aboutonnireisaflowerplacedinthebuttonholeofasuitjacket.InFrench,a
boutonnireisthebuttonholeitself.
c'estmagnifique,maiscen'estpaslaguerre
"itismagnificent,butitisnotwar"quotationfromMarshalPierreBosquetcommentingonthe
chargeoftheLightBrigade.UnknownquotationinFrench.
causeclbre
Anissuearousingwidespreadcontroversyorheatedpublicdebate,lit.'famouscause'.Itiscorrect
grammatically,buttheexpressionisnotusedinFrench.
chacunsongot
thecorrectexpressionsinFrencharechacunsesgots/chacunsesgots/chacunsongot:"to
eachhis/herowntaste(s)".
chanson
aclassical"artsong,"equiv.totheGermanLiedortheItalianariaor,inRussian,acabaretstyle
sungnarrative,usuallyrenderedbyagutturalmalevoicewithguitaraccompaniment.InFrench,it
simplymeansasong.
chteau
amanorhouseoracountryhouseofnobilityorgentry,withorwithoutfortifications,originallyand
stillmostfrequentlyinFrenchspeakingregions.Thewordchteauisalsousedforcastlesin
French,sowhereclarificationisneeded,thetermchteaufort("strongcastle")isusedtodescribea
castle.
cinqsept
extraconjugalaffairbetweenfiveandsevenpm.InFrench,thoughitcanalsomeanthis,itprimarily
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meansanyrelaxingtimewithfriendsbetweentheendofworkandthebeginningofthemarital
obligations.
claque
agroupofadmirersinFrench,laclaqueisagroupofpeoplepaidtoapplaudordisturbapieceatthe
theatre,thoughthecommonmeaningof"claque"is"aslap"cliqueisusedinthissense(butina
pejorativeway).
connoisseur
anexpertinwines,finearts,orothermattersofcultureapersonofrefinedtaste.Itisspelled
connaisseurinmodernFrench.
corsage
Abouquetofflowerswornonawoman'sdressorwornaroundherwrist.InFrench,itreferstoa
woman'schest(fromshouldertowaist)and,byextension,thepartofawoman'sgarmentthatcovers
thisarea.
coupdemain(pl.coupsdemain)
asurpriseattack.InFrench,[donner]uncoupdemainmeans"[togive]ahand"(togiveassistance).
EveniftheEnglishmeaningexistsaswell(asinfairelecoupdemain),itisoldfashioned.
coupd'tat(pl.coupsd'tat)
asuddenchangeingovernmentbyforceliterally"hit(blow)ofstate."Frenchusesthecapital,
becausetheuseofacapitalletteraltersthemeaningoftheword(tat:aState,asinacountrytat:a
stateofbeing).Italsocannotbeshortenedascoup,whichmeanssomethingelsealtogetherinFrench.
dbut
firstpublicperformanceofanentertainmentpersonalityorgroup.InFrench,itmeans"beginning."
TheEnglishmeaningofthewordexistsonlywheninthepluralform:[faire]sesdbuts[surscne]
(tomakeone'sdbutsonthestage).
dcolletage
alowcutneckline,cleavage.InFrenchitmeans:1.actionofloweringafemalegarment'sneckline
2.Agric.:cuttingleavesfromsomecultivatedrootssuchasbeets,carrots,etc.3.Tech.Operation
consistingofmakingscrews,bolts,etc.oneafteranotheroutofasinglebarofmetalonaparallel
lathe.
dmarche
adecisivestep.InFrench,itmeansapreparingstepoftenusedinthepluralform,oradistinctiveway
ofwalking.
dpanneur
aneighbourhoodgeneral/conveniencestore,termusedineasternCanada(oftenshortenedtodpor
dep).ThistermiscommonlyusedinCanadianFrenchhowever,inFrance,itmeansarepairman.In
France,aconveniencestorewouldbeasupretteorpicerie[dequartier].
migr
onewhohasemigratedforpoliticalreasons.Frenchalsousethewordexil(exiled)oreven"exil
politique".
encore
Arequesttorepeataperformance,asinEncore!,lit.'again'alsousedtodescribeadditionalsongs
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playedattheendofagig.FrancophoneswouldsayUneautre!('Anotherone!')orBis!to
requestunrappelorunbis.
enmasse
inamassorgroup,alltogether.InFrench,masserefersonlytoaphysicalmass,whetherforpeople
orobjects.Itcannotbeusedforsomethingimmaterial,like,forexample,thevoice:"theyalltogether
said'getout'"wouldbetranslatedasilsontdit'dehors'enchur([likeachorus]).Also,enmasse
referstonumerouspeopleorobjects(acrowdoramountainofthings).
ensuite
asaset(nottobeconfusedwithensuite,meaning"then").Canrefer,inparticular,tohotelrooms
withattachedprivatebathroom,especiallyinBritainwherehotelswithoutprivatefacilitiesaremore
commonthaninNorthAmerica.InFrench,suite,wheninthecontextofahotel,alreadymeans
severalroomsfollowingeachother.J'ailouunesuiteauRitzwouldbetranslatedas"Irentedasuite
attheRitz."EnsuiteisnotgrammaticallyincorrectinFrench,butitisnotanexpressioninitselfand
itisnotused.
pe
afencingweapondescendedfromtheduellingsword.InFrench,apartfromfencing(thesport)the
termismoregeneric:itmeanssword.
escritoire
awritingtable.ItisspeltcritoireinmodernFrench.
expos
apublishedexposureofafraudorscandal(pastparticipleof"toexpose")inFrenchreferstoatalk
orareportonanykindofsubject.
femme
astereotypicallyeffeminategaymanorlesbian(slang,pronouncedaswritten).InFrench,femme
(pronounced'fam')means"woman."
findesicle
comparableto(butnotexactlythesameas)turnofthecenturybutwithaconnotationofdecadence,
usuallyappliedtotheperiodfrom1890through1910.InFrench,itmeans"endofthecentury,"butit
isn'tarecognizedexpressionassuch.
forte
astrength,astrongpoint,typicallyofaperson,fromtheFrenchfort(e)(strong)and/orItalianforte
(strong,esp."loud"inmusic)and/orLatinforte(neuterformoffortis,strong).Frenchusesfort(e)for
bothpeopleandobjects.
AccordingtoMerriamWebsterDictionary,"InfortewehaveawordderivedfromFrenchthatinits
"strongpoint"sensehasnoentirelysatisfactorypronunciation.Usagewritershavedenigrated\'for
"tA\and\'fortE\becausetheyreflecttheinfluenceoftheItalianderivedforte.Theirrecommended
pronunciation\'fort\,however,doesnotexactlyreflectFrencheither:theFrenchwouldwritethe
wordlefortandwouldrhymeitwithEnglishfor[Frenchdoesn'tpronouncethefinal"t"].Allare
standard,however.InBritishEnglish\'fo"tA\and\'fot\predominate\'for"tA\and\for'tA\are
probablythemostfrequentpronunciationsinAmericanEnglish."
TheNewOxfordDictionaryofEnglishderivesitfromfencing.InFrench,lefortd'unepeisthe
thirdofabladenearerthehilt,thestrongestpartoftheswordusedforparrying.
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lasauceesttout
"Thesauceiseverything!"or"Thesecret'sinthesauce!"Taglineusedina1950sAmerican
televisioncommercialcampaignforanAmericanlineofcannedfoodproducts.Grammatically
correctbutnotusedinFrench,whereonemightsayToutestdanslasauceorC'estlasaucequifait
(passer)lepoisson(alsofig.).
marquee
thesignaboveatheaterthattellsyouwhatisplaying.Frommarquise,whichmeansnotonlya
marchionessbutalsoanawning.Theaterbuildingsaregenerallyoldandnowadaysthereisnever
suchasignabovethemthereisonlytheadvertisementfortheplay(l'affiche).
nostalgiedelaboue
"yearningforthemud"attractiontowhatisunworthy,crudeordegrading.[59]Thoughgrammatically
correct,itisnotusedinFrench.
outr
outoftheordinary,unusual.InFrench,itmeansoutraged(foraperson)orexaggerated,extravagant,
overdone(forathing,esp.apraise,anactor'sstyleofacting,etc.)inthatsecondmeaning,belongsto
"literary"style.
pass
outoffashion.ThecorrectexpressioninFrenchispassdemode.Passmeanspast,passed,or(fora
colour)faded.
peignoir
awoman'sdressinggown.InFrenchitisabathrobe.Adressinggownisarobedechambre(lit.a
bedroomdress).
piced'occasion
"occasionalpiece"itemwrittenorcomposedforaspecialoccasion.InFrench,itmeans"second
handhardware."Canbeshortenedaspiced'occas
'
orevenoccas
'
(pronounced/okaz/).
portemanteau(pl.portemanteaux)
inEnglishaportmanteauisalargepieceofluggageforclothesthatopens(likeabookoradiptych)
intotwoparts.Fromthisliteralsense,LewisCarroll,inhisnovelThroughtheLookingGlass
playfullycoinedafurtherfigurativesenseforportmanteaumeaningawordthatfusestwoormore
wordsorpartsofwordstogiveacombinedmeaning.InFrench,lit.a'coatcarrier',originallya
personwhocarriedtheroyalcoatordresstrain,nowalargesuitcasemoreoften,aclotheshanger.
TheequivalentoftheEnglish/LewisCarrollportemanteauisunmotvalise(lit.asuitcaseword).
potpourri
medley,mixtureFrenchwriteitpotpourri,literally'rottenpot':primarilyapotinwhichdifferent
kindsofflowersorspicesareputtodryforyearsforthescent.
prcis
aconcisesummary.InFrench,whentalkingaboutaschoolcourse,itmeansanabridgedbookabout
thematter.Literally,prcismeansprecise,accurate.
premire
referstothefirstperformanceofaplay,afilm,etc.InFrench,itmeans"thefirst",andisusedonly
foraliveperformance.
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raisonneur
atypeofauthorintrusioninwhichawriterinsertsacharactertoarguetheauthor'sviewpointalter
ego,sometimescalled'authoravatar'.InFrench,araisonneurisacharacterinaplaywhostandsfor
moralityandreason,i.e.,notnecessarilytheauthor'spointofview.Thefirstmeaningofthisword
thoughisaman(fem.raisonneuse)whooverdoesreasonings,whotiresbyobjectingwithnumerous
argumentstoeveryorder.
recherch
lit.searchedobscurepretentious.InFrench,means'sophisticated'or'delicate',orsimply'studied',
withoutthenegativeconnotationsoftheEnglish.
rendezvous
lit."presentyourself"or"proceedto"ameeting,appointment,ordateinFrench,butinEnglishhas
takenonotherovertones.AlwayshyphenatedinFrench:rendezvous.Itsonlyacceptedabbreviation
inFrenchisRDV.
reprise
repetitionofpreviousmusicinasuite,programme,etc.InFrench,itmaymeananalternateversion
ofapieceofmusic,oracoverversion.Toexpresstherepetitionofapreviousmusicaltheme,French
wouldexclusivelyusetheItaliantermcoda.
rsum
inNorthAmericanEnglish,adocumentlistingone'squalificationsforemployment.InFrench,it
meanssummaryFrenchspeakerswoulduseinsteadcurriculumvit,oritsabbreviation,C.V.(like
mostotherEnglishspeakers)
risqu(alsorisque)
sexuallysuggestive[60]inFrench,themeaningofrisquis"risky,"withnosexualconnotation.
Francophonesuseinsteados(lit."daring")orsometimesdvergond(veryformallanguage).Os,
unlikedvergond,cannotbeusedforpeoplethemselves,onlyforthings(suchaspictures)or
attitudes.
sance
agathering,usuallyusinga'medium',attemptingtocommunicatewiththedead.InFrench,theword
means'sitting'andusuallyreferstoanykindofmeetingorsession.
tabled'hte(pl.tablesd'hte)
inEnglish,whenuseditusuallyreferstotypeofmeal:afullcoursemealofferedatafixedprice.
However,inFrench,itreferstoatypeoflodging:theclosestEnglishequivalentwouldbe"abed&
breakfast"or"B&B."Theoriginofthemeaning(forFrenchspeakers)isthatatatabled'hte
(literally"tableofthehouse"or"tableofthehost"),unlikeatafullservicepurposebuilthotel,all
patronseattogetheratthehost'stable,whateverthefamilyhavepreparedforthemselves(typically
traditionalregionaldishes).Indeed,inFrancetodayalodginglabelled"tabled'hte"mightperhaps
notevenofferfoodtheappellationmeaningwhatanEnglishspeakerwouldthinkofasa"bed&
breakfaststyle"familyhomelodging(asopposedtoapurposebuilthotel).
tableauvivant(pl.tableauxvivants,oftenshortenedastableau)
indrama,ascenewhereactorsremainmotionlessasifinapicture.Tableaumeanspainting,tableau
vivant,livingpainting.InFrench,itisanexpressionusedinbodypainting.
touch
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acknowledgmentofaneffectivecounterpoint.InFrench,usedfor"emotionallytouched".
vignette
abriefdescriptionashortscene.InFrench,itisasmallpicture,andnowinsomeEuropeancountries
alsomeans'permitfordrivingonmotorways.'
FoundonlyinEnglish
aidedecamp
"campassistant"inthearmy,amilitaryassistanttoasenior
militaryofficer(headsofStateareconsideredmilitaryofficers
becauseoftheirstatusasheadofthearmy).InCanada,itmay
alsorefertothehonorarypositionapersonholdsasapersonal
assistanttoahighcivilservant.ItexistsinFrenchtoobutis
writtenaidedecamp(withoutanyhyphens).
chef
inEnglish,apersonwhocooksprofessionallyforotherpeople.
InFrench,aprofessionalcookisarestaurateur.Achef(literally
"head"),meansamastercookorchiefcook.Also,souschef,the
secondincommand,directlyundertheheadchef.Additionally,
inaworkcontext,achefisone'sboss.
cinquefoil
fivepetal,fiveleafflowerofthegenusPotentilla,family
Rosaceaealsoacircular5lobedornamentaldesign.Spelled
quintefeuilleinFrench.
ACanadianaidedecamp
cridecur
"cryfromtheheart":animpassionedoutcry,asofentreatyorprotest.InFrench,theexactexpression
iscriducur.
demimonde
aclassofwomenofillreputeafringegrouporsubculture.FelloutofuseintheFrenchlanguagein
the19thcentury.Frenchmenstilluseunedemimondainetoqualifyawomanthatlives(exclusively
orpartially)offthecommerceofhercharmsbutinahighlifestyle.
doubleentendre
afigureofspeechwhereinawordorphrasescanbetakentohavetwodistinctcoherentmeanings,
mostofteninafashionthatissuggestiveand/orironic."Entendre"isaninfinitiveverb("tohear"),
notanounacorrectrenderingwouldbe"doubleentente",anadjectivalphrasemeaning"ofa
doubleunderstandingordoubleinterpretation"(literally,"withadoublehearing").Themodern
Frenchphraseis"doublesens".
entre
lit."entrance"inFrench,thefirstdishthatstartsameal,i.e.theentrancetothemeal.Synonymof
"horsd'uvre".Themaindishor"platdersistance"comesaftertheentre.InAmericanEnglish,
themeaninghasmigratedto"maindish".InothervarietiesofEnglishitmaintainsitsFrench
meaning.
homage
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termusedforfilmsthatareinfluencedbyotherfilms,inparticularbytheworksofanotabledirector.
Frenchwordiswrittenhommage,andisusedforallshowsofadmiration,respect,orinaclosesense
fordedicationofanartworktoanother.
horsd'oeuvre
termusedforthesnacksservedwithdrinksbeforeameal.Literally"outsideofthework".The
Frenchuseapritiftorefertothetimebeforeamealandthedrinksconsumedduringthattime,yet
"horsd'uvre"isasynonymof"entre"inFrenchandmeansthefirstdishthatstartsameal.
inlieu(of)
"inplace(of)":ahybridphrase,partiallytranslatedfromtheexistingFrenchphraseaulieu.
lgerdemain(legerdemain)
"lightofhand":sleightofhand,usuallyinthecontextofdeceptionortheartofstagemagictricks.
MeaninglessinFrench,andhasnoequivalent.
matred'
translatesasmastero'.Francophoneswouldsaymatred'htel(literally"masterofthehouse"or
"masteroftheestablishment")instead(Frenchneveruses"d' "alone).InFrenchasinEnglish,
"matred'"meansthe"headwaiter",themanageroftheserviceside.
neglige
Arobeoradressinggown,usuallyofsheerorsoftfabricforwomen.Frenchusesnglig(masculine
form)ornuisette.InFrench,thewordngligequalifiesawomanwhoneglectsherappearance.
picedersistance(piecederesistance)
thebestthemaindishinameal,orthemainiteminaseries,literally"apiecethatresists."[61]
Francophonesuseplatdersistance(maindish).
rouge
lit."red"1)redmakeup,alsocalledblusher2)inCanadianfootball,awardedwhentheballiskicked
intotheendzonebyanylegalmeans,otherthanasuccessfulfieldgoal,andthereceivingteamdoes
notreturn,orkick,theballoutofitsendzone.
succsdescandale
"Successthroughscandal"Francophonesmightusesuccsparmdisance.
voirdire
atrialwithinatrial,or(inAmerica)juryselection(LawFrench).Literally"tospeakthetruth."[62]
(AngloNormanvoir[truth]isetymologicallyunrelatedtothemodernFrenchvoir[tosee].)[63]In
modernAmericancourtprocedure,theexaminationofprospectivejurorsfortheirqualificationto
serve,includinginherentbiases,viewsandpredelictionsduringthisexamination,eachprospective
jurormust"speakthetruth"sothatcounselandthecourtmaydecidewhethertheyshouldremainon
thejuryorbeexcused.InEnglandandWales,theexpressionisusedtorefertoa"trialwithinatrial,"
duringwhichajudgehearsevidenceintheabsenceofthejury,typicallytodecidewhetheracertain
pieceofevidenceshouldbeallowedtobepresentedtothejuryornot.Forexample,ajudgemight
holda"voirdire"todeterminewhetheraconfessionhasbeenextractedfromadefendantbyanunfair
inducementinordertodecidewhetherthejuryshouldhearevidenceoftheconfessionornot.
Frenchphrasesininternationalairsearescue
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InternationalauthoritieshaveadoptedanumberofwordsandphrasesfromFrenchforusebyspeakersof
alllanguagesinvoicecommunicationsduringairsearescues.Notethatthe"phonetic"versionsofspelling
arepresentedasshownandnottheIPA.
SECURITAY
(scurit,"safety")thefollowingisasafetymessageorwarning,thelowestlevelofdanger.
PANPAN
(panne,"breakdown")thefollowingisamessageconcerningadangertoapersonorship,thenext
levelofdanger.
MAYDAY
([venez]m'aider,cometohelpme"aidezmoimeans"helpme")thefollowingisamessageof
extremeurgency,thehighestlevelofdanger.(MAYDAYisusedonvoicechannelsforthesameuses
asSOSonMorsechannels.)
SEELONCE
(silence,"silence")keepthischannelclearforairsearescuecommunications.
SEELONCEFEENEE
(silencefini,"silenceisover")thischannelisnowavailableagain.
PRUDONCE
(prudence,"prudence")silencepartiallylifted,channelmaybeusedagainforurgentnondistress
communication.
MAYDEECAL
(mdical,"medical")medicalassistanceneeded.
Itisaseriousbreachinmostcountries,andininternationalzones,touseanyofthesephraseswithout
justification.
SeeMayday(distresssignal)foramoredetailedexplanation.
Seealso
Seealso:Category:Frenchwordsandphrases.
Glossaryofballet,whichispredominantly
French
Fencingterms,whichareofteninFrench.
Franglais
Frenchlanguage
LawFrench
EnglishwordsofFrenchorigin
PseudoGallicisms
GermanexpressionsinEnglish
Greekphrases
Latinphrases
LatinwordswithEnglishderivatives
FrenchloanwordsinPersian
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25. "Rubydayisademicladfemmefataleinpantomimeboy'sclothing,channellingLizaMinelliandEFBenson's
QuaintIreneasalluringtowomenassheistomen.Youcanjustaboutseehowitmightpaterlabourgeoisie,
withoutfeelingforasecondanyoutrageisjustified,"RowanPelling,Howisthispainting'pornographic'and
'disgusting'?,TheGuardian,Tuesday8July2014.
26. "MayIremindyourreadersthatplanningpermissionhasnotyetbeensoughtforthe[Foster]tower,norisita
faitaccompli,"PaulDrury(EnglishHeritage),LetterstotheEditor,IndependentonSunday,18August1996
27. EvelynWaughwasveryclosetonotbeingaskedbacktoLaMauresqueafteronegravefauxpasthatMaugham,
knownforhisstammer,didnotfindamusing.Tohishost'squestionaboutwhatacertainindividualwaslike,
Waughrepliedcharacteristically,'apansywithastammer'.Herecalled,"AllthePicassosonthewallblanched,
butMaughamremainedcalm",JohnWhitley,Alittleplaceinthesun,TelegraphMagazine,17August1996.
28. "Somefemmesfatalesplaytoaman'ssexuality,sometohisintelligence,butshejustplayedtomydamnego,"
EdRollins,Arianna,NewsReview,TheSundayTimes,11August1996.
40/43
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29. "EdVictor,doyenofliteraryagentsandhabituoftheHamptons,acelebrityplaygroundinLongIsland,New
YorkState,"P.H.S.,TheTimesDiary,TheTimes,SaturdaySeptember21,1996.
30. "TheFrenchrightwingdaily[LeFigaro]pleadsfortoleranceofAmericanhauteur,"PressWatch,TheEuropean,
814August1996.
31. "ThishasprovokedspeculationthatYeltsinistooilltobeoperatedon.PerhapsthetwoGermandoctorsoffering
theirservicescanhelpresolvetheimpasse,"CareyScott,InsideMoscow,TheSundayTimes,15September
1996.
32. "Aninvestigationwasstartedoverallegationsthatthelocaljeunessedorehadbeeninvolvedinadrugs,drink
andsexorgyinthecemetery,"RogerFaligot,Graveissuethatwon'tdiedown,TheEuropean,814August1996.
33. "BrunswickStreet[...]asmallscaleversionofManhattan'sEastVillage,[...]wherethereisalwaysanintense
wouldbelitterateurscribblingmadlyatacornertableinsomesmokydive,"DouglasKennedy,Lightreliefina
taleoftwocities,TheTimesWeekend,SaturdayAugust24,1996.
34. "Shelikedtoalternatehersmartpartieswithmuchmoreloucheaffairsatwhichdrugscirculatedasfrequentlyas
thecocktails,"JohnWhitley,Alittleplaceinthesun,TelegraphMagazine,17August1996.
35. "I'vealwaysthoughtAnneBoleynwasabitofamadame.Shethoughtshecouldgetawaywithanything,"
InterviewofKeithMichell,TheObserverReview,27October1996.
36. "HarryWalstonhadlittleoptionbuttolet[Graham]Greeneformpartoftheirunusualmnagetrois:Catherine
hadmadeitplaintoHarrythatifhewantedtokeepher,Greenemustremainpartofherlife,"P.H.S.,TheTimes
Diary,TheTimes,SaturdaySeptember21,1996.
37. "Bouncingoutoftheshowertoinvestigatethecommotioncameaboxerwhosenomdeguerresaysitall:the
GrimReaper,"PeterHillmore,Pendennis,TheObserverReview,27October1996.
38. "Throughouttheyear,theacquisitionofanewvaseorphotograph,orthediscoveryofanobjecttrouva
skeletonleaf,afragmentofpaintedpaper,anintriguinglyshapedpieceofwoodistheexcuseforaboutof
rearranging,"ElspethThompson,StilllifewithAgns,TheSundayTelegraphMagazine,18August1996.
39. "FleurCowlesknowseverybodywhoisanybodyandmostlyhasthephotographstoproveit.Asaunterthrough
herhallwayproducesmoreevidenceofanetworkerparexcellence,"MaryRiddell,Howtomakefriends,The
Times,TuesdayAugust13,1996.
40. "AMirageofModernity:pasdedeuxofConsumptionandProduction,"titleofHongKongresearcherYan
Hairong'contributiontoUnquietMigration(HsiaoChuanHsiaed.),2009.
41. "Butjustbecauseawordhasbrieflybecomepartofthenation'splaygroundpatois,doesthatqualifyitforaplace
intheOED?,"JonStock,Mishtoexplainarapsessionwivyoof,WeekendTelegraph,SaturdayAugust17,
1996.
42. "Pricesofdevelopments[atRotherhithe]arerisingasprofessionalsworkingatCanaryWharfandelsewherein
Docklandsseekapiedterre,"TheDailyTelegraph,WednesdayAugust14,1996.
43. Pourencouragerlesautres@Everything2.com(http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1469618)
44. "[Daniel]HardingisaprotgofSirSimonRattle,himselfonceheraldedasthegreatyounghopeofBritish
Music,"NigelReynolds,Britain'slatestprodigytakesuptoughestbaton,TheDailyTelegraph,Thursday,
September12,1996.
45. "Undoubtedlyhismodusoperandiisnotunlikethefluentpubraconteurwhoaugmentsastoryuntilhegetsa
laugh,"BillBryson,AYankatthecourtofLittleEngland,TheSundayTimes,11August1996.
46. "SupportfortheTibetanmovementstoppedin1971whenPresidentNixonandHenryKissingerpursuedapolicy
ofrapprochementwithChina."BrentNavarro,Tibet:AssessingitsPotentialforChina'sInstability
(http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/aacs/2007conference/Navarro_Brent_AssessingTibetpotentialasanInstabilityfor
China.doc),September15,2007.
47. "AstartlingnumberofAmericanrestaurateurshaveturnedtocaviarchicasasurewayofwinningcustomers,"
TonyAllenMills,Style,15September1996.
48. "AsoneofthePrimeMinister'smostdevotedsupportersputittome,'Torypolicyisbasedonthedemocratic
philosophyofAristotleandPluto,'andwasquiteuncomprehendingatmyripostethatPlutoisacartoondog
inventedbyWaltDisney,"BrianSewell,Greedy,vainandarrogantthepoliticianswhoinsultusall,Evening
Standard,13August1996.
49. "ThisromanclefsetsouttorecountthestrugglebetweenthemediamogulsRobertMaxwell[...]andRupert
Murdoch,"ReviewbyLaurenceMeyerofJeffreyArcher'sTheFourthEstate,InternationalHeraldTribune,
WednesdayJuly31,1996.
41/43
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50. "Thepictureshetookof[Julia]RobertssansnewboyfriendwillrunintheAmericantabloidTheStar,"
Videonasties,TheSundayTimes,Style,18August1996.
51. "NigelLawsonusedtobeknownbythesobriquetof'Smuggins',"PeterHillmore,Pendennis,TheObserver
Review,27October1996.
52. "Sotheycomeupwithasuccesd'estimeandaseriesofflopsd'estimefollow,"ChristopherFildes,Takeiteasy
MrBond,helpisonthewayMissMoneypennywillfixit,BusinessNews,TheDailyTelegraph,Saturday,
August17,1996.
53. "Thefocusofthesalonwasthemagnificentchimneypiece,atourdeforceinmouldedandfacetedglassand
housinganuptodateelectricfire,"KennethPowell,Mayfair'shiddentreasure,TheSundayReview,TheSunday
Telegraph,August18,1996
54. "Thefilmbeginsbriskly,with[...]atourdeforceactionsceneinmidair",NigelAndrews,Superherointo
superhulk,FinancialTimes,ThursdayAugust22,1996.
55. "It[theproposedagreement]alsoinvolvesthebanksswappingatleast2billiondebtintotwotranchesof
convertiblesecuritieswhichwould,ifconverted,givethembetween25%and80%ofthefullydilutedequity,"
JonathanFord,Tunneldebttalkshitconversionsnag,EveningStandard,BusinessDay,Thursday,12September
1996.
56. "ThisconstantvaetvientoffortunehuntersiswhatgivesLhasatheimpermanent,feverishatmosphereofa
typicalcowboytown,"IanBuruma,TibetDisenchanted,ChinaFile,July20,2000(firstpublishedintheJuly20,
2000issueoftheNewYorkReviewofBooks).
57. "DeGaullewasalwaysproudofdisplaying"ladiffrence"visvistheAmericansintheArabworld,"Kirsty
Lang,They'renotallright,Jacques,TheSundayTimes,27October1996.
58. "anationofvoyeurs:peoplewhogettheirgustatorykicksfromwatchingotherpeoplecookbutdon'tactuallydo
itthemselves",BrendaMaddox,Cookingforkitchenvoyeurs,TheTimes,WednesdaySeptember11,1996.
59. http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/nostalgie%20de%20la%20boue
60. "TeacherAlanFaulknerwarned:'Someoftheskirtsweregettingveryrisqueand[...]thegirlswouldface
disciplinaryaction',"DailyMail,SaturdaySeptember21,1996.
61. "Thelivingroom,withitsleathersofafromHarrods,payphoneandglasscoffeetable,isthepicedersistance,"
Myfriendthehighflyingdolecheat,TheDailyTelegraph,Wednesday,August14,1996.
62. voirdire(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/voir%20dire?r=1)TheAmericanHeritageDictionaryofthe
EnglishLanguage,FourthEdition(2006)
63. voir(http://www.anglonorman.net/D/voir)TheAngloNormanDictionary
Furtherreading
FrancoiseBlanchard,JeremyLeven.SayChic:ACollectionofFrenchWordsWeCan'tLiveWithout.
SimonandSchuster.2007.144pages
Winokur,J.,JeNeSaisWhat?:AGuidetoderigueurFrenglishforReaders,Writers,andSpeakers
Externallinks
CommunicationsInstructions,DistressandRescueProcedures(pdf)
(http://web.archive.org/web/20080407230241/http://www.jcs.mil/j6/cceb/acps/Acp135f.pdf),
CombinedCommunicationsElectronicsBoard
OnlineEtymologyDictionary(http://www.etymonline.com/index.php),Harper,D.
Frenchwordswithincompletesentences,text+audiofiles(http://www.parisbypod.com/audio
frenchdictionnary/family1/)
MathematicalWords:OriginsandSources
(http://www.economics.soton.ac.uk/staff/aldrich/Mathematical%20Words.htm)(JohnAldrich,
UniversityofSouthampton)SeeSectiononContributionofFrench.
42/43
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title=List_of_French_expressions_in_English&oldid=683297599"
Categories: Listsofphrases Frenchlanguage ListsofEnglishwordsofFrenchorigin
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TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmay
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