French words used in English

[كونزيت]

adieu

"To God." Means "good-bye."

à la

"In the style of." E.g. a food that is in the Greek style is "à la Greque" and pie with ice cream on top is in the fashionable style, or "à la mode."

à propos

"With reference to." I said something à propos of nothing.

au gratin

In French, it is a piece of clothing that covers the chest. In English, it is a flower on a woman's dress or jacket. It is the custom for a man to present his date with a corsage to wear on an important evening out, .

coup d'état

"Attack on the state." A "coup" (as it is sometimes abbreviated) is where the army suddenly replaces the government of its country.

coup de grâce
"Stroke of kindness

cul-de-sac

"Bottom of the bag." A street that goes nowhere, but just stops.

décolletage

A low-cut lady's neckline, exposing some of the breast. Alternatively, it is the portion of the breast exposed by a low

enfant terrible

"Terrible child

déjà vu

"Already seen." This is the feeling that people sometimes get, when they go somewhere for the first time, that they have been there before.

esprit de corps

"Spirit of the group." If the members of a group are proud to belong to it, and work hard to improve it, then that group has esprit de corps.

fait accompli

"A finished action." If someone was going to stop you from doing something, but you've already finished doing it, then you have given them a fait accompli.

faux pas

"False step." An action which is not socially acceptable. For example, telling jokes about blind people when a blind person can hear you, or to the friends or family of blind people, is a faux pas. Don't do it.

femme fatale

"Deadly woman." A very attractive single woman who breaks many men's hearts.

fiancée

A woman who is to be married.

film noir

"Black movie." A type of cynical movie that was popular in the 1930's and 40's. A modern equivalent would be the film Bladerunner.

fin de siècle

"End of the century." The decadent period at the end of the 19th

hors de combat

"Out of the fight." Someone who has been hurt badly and has given up. "Has Ralph started dating again?" "No, he's still hors de combat."

hors-d'oeuvre

"Outside of the work." A snack you eat before the meal.

je ne sais quoi

"I don't know what." If you like something, but don't know why, you say that it has a je ne sais quoi.

joie de vivre

"Joy of life." Some people are always happy. They have joie de vivre.

laissez-faire

"Let it be." An adjective describing a policy of not interfering with something. Often used to describe government economic policies, for example.

martinet

"Pen name." This is the name that a writer puts on his books, if he doesn't want to use his real name.

nouveau riche

"Newly rich." People who have earned a lot of money recently,

pièce de résistance

The best part of something. "The Science Fair was excellent, but Calvin's project was the pièce de résistance."

touché

"Touched." In fencing (sword fighting) you say this as the other person's sword touches you. In conversation, you might say it if the other person pokes a hole in what you've said. "I hate to spend money." "You spent $50 in the restaurant just last night!" "Touché." The English equivalent is "You got me."