foreign words and phrases - cisd€¦ · foreign words and phrases author: amanda wallace created...
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Foreign Words and Phrases
French Words
a la carte
with a separate price for each item printed on the menu
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/a+la+carte?s=t
ambiance
(literally means surroundings): mood, character, atmosphere of a location
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambiance?s=t
au naturel
(literally means in the natural state): served plainly; nude
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/au+naturel?s=t
avant-garde
(literally means “the front guard”): a progressive art movement
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/avant-garde?s=t
bon appetit
• (literally means a good appetite): interjection meaning “I wish you a hearty appetite.”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bon+appetit?s=t
bon voyage
(literally means a good journey): farewell
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bon+voyage?s=t
bourgeois
townsman; member of the middle class
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bourgeois?s=t
carte blanche
• freedom to act: permission or authority given to somebody to act with freedom or discretion
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/carte+blanche
c’est la vie
that’s life; such is life
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/c-est-la-vie
cliché
an expression or idea which has become overused and lost its effectiveness
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clich%C3%A9?&o=100074&s=t
déjà vu
(literally means “already seen”): sensation of having experienced something
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0+vu?s=t
double entendre
• (literally “double meaning”): an expression open to two interpretations, one of which is usually indecent
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/double+entendre?s=t
en route
on the way
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/en+route?s=t
faux pas
social blunder or mistake
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faux+pas?s=t
femme fatale
(literally “fatal woman”): an irresistible woman, a woman-siren
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/femme+fatale?s=t
haute couture
high fashion
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/haute+couture?s=t
je ne sais quoi
(literally “I don’t know what”); describes an elusive quality or expression
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/je+ne+sais+quoi?s=t
laissez faire
• (literally “let the people do”): an individualistic approach to economic regulations; avoiding interference in the business of others
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/laissez+faire?s=t
nom de plume
a writer’s pseudonym, pen name
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nom+de+plume?s=t
par excellence
the best at something
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/par+excellence?s=t
rendezvous
a meeting at an appointed place and time
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rendezvous?s=t
résponde s’il vous plaît
(literally “reply, if you please”): used as RSVP
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/r%C3%A9pondez%20s'il%20vous%20pla%C3%AEt
tete-a-tete
a private conversation; face-to-face
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tete-a-tete?&o=100074&s=t
tour de force
a remarkable feat or accomplishment
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tour+de+force?s=t
vis-à-vis
face-to-face or in relation to
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vis-%C3%A0-vis?s=t