Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English Created by, Laurie Stansbury ENG IV

e.g. (exempli gratia) Meaning: for example Origin: Latin Additional Info: Literally “for the sake of an example.” Not to be confused with id est. Example: “There were several type of tree in the forest e.g. beech, oak, birch, maple.” Part of Speech: adverb (abbreviation)

RSVP Meaning: please reply Origin: French Additional Info: In French: répondez s’il vous plaît Example: “Don't forget to RSVP before Thursday.” Part of Speech: verb or noun

Déjà vu Meaning: illusion of having experienced something already Origin: French Additional Info: Can refer to something which has in fact happened before or, more commonly, to a false sensation or illusion. Often carries an unpleasant or creepy connotation. Example: “I had a weird feeling of déjà vu as I entered the old house.” Part of Speech: noun

Faux pas Meaning: social blunder Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “false step,” it is usually used for a breach of etiquette. Example: “She soon realized that she had committed a grave faux pas.” Synonyms: error, impropriety Part of Speech: noun

Du jour Meaning: of the day Origin: French early 20c. on menus Additional Info: As well as meaning food prepared for a particular day (e.g. soup du jour), it has come to mean anything fashionable, current or trendy. Example: “Environmentalism is the big issue du jour.” Part of Speech: noun

Bon voyage Meaning: have a pleasant trip Origin: French Additional Info: Used to express farewell and good wishes to a departing traveler. Example: “He yelled, ‘Bon Voyage’ as the ship pulled away from the dock.” Part of Speech: interjection

Alma mater Meaning: one’s old university or school Origin: Latin 1710 Additional Info: Literally “nourishing mother.” The term also refers to a school's official song. Example: “My alma mater keeps asking me for donations.” Part of Speech: noun

Cum laude Meaning: with honor; with praise Origin: Latin 1872 Additional Info: used in diplomas to grant the lowest of three special honors for grades above the average. Example: “Work hard and you can graduate cum laude.” Part of Speech: adverb See Also: Magna cum laude (with great praise), summa cum laude (with highest praise)

Femme fatale Meaning: attractive, dangerous woman Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “deadly woman,” used to mean a woman likely to lead someone to ruin, even if not death. Example: “She had the air of a femme fatale, and I was instantly on my guard.” Part of Speech: noun

Esprit De Corps Meaning: team spirit Origin: French Additional Info: Military in origin, but now more generally applied. Example: The sales department was well known for its esprit de corps. Synonym: camaraderie, bonding, solidarity, fellowship Part of Speech: noun

Verbatim Meaning: in exactly the same words Origin: Latin Additional Info: skilled at recording word-for-word accuracy Example: Take down my speech verbatim. Part of Speech: adverb or adjective

E pluribus unum Meaning: out of many, one Origin: Latin Additional Info: It refers to the Union formed by the separate states. E pluribus unum was adopted as a national motto in 1776 and is now found on the Great Seal of the United States and on United States currency. Example: I’m old enough to remember when the motto of the USA was “e pluribus unum” not “in McDonalds we trust.” Part of Speech: Phrase

Prima donna Meaning: temperamental performer; first or principal singer in opera company Origin: Italian Additional Info: Indicates a vain, difficult personality, but one who is indispensable due to their talent and style. Example: “She may be good, but what a prima donna!” Part of Speech: noun

Avant-garde Meaning: radically original, cutting edge Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “advance guard” or first to attack, applied to radically innovative movements in the arts, sometimes with a sarcastic suggestion of the bizarre or incomprehensible. Example: “It was all a bit avant-garde for my tastes.” Part of Speech: noun or adjective

Status quo Meaning: current state of affairs; state in which Origin: Latin Additional Info: Sometimes used to give the impression of excessive safety and resistance to change. Example: “He’s too comfortable with the status quo.” Part of Speech: noun

Joie de vivre Meaning: joy of life Origin: French Additional Info: Implies an openness to new experiences and an exuberance and effervescence. Example: “She was so full of joie de vivre that she was positively glowing.” Part of Speech: noun

Carte blanche Meaning: a free hand, a blank cheque Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “white (blank) card.” Example: “He gave me carte blanche to finish it any way I liked.” Part of Speech: noun

Caveat emptor Meaning: let the buyer beware Origin: Latin Additional Info: In the absence of a warranty, the buyer should take care what he is buying, and assumes the risk of the quality of a product. Example: “It’s a reliable store, but still, caveat emptor.” Part of Speech: noun

Alpha and omega Meaning: the beginning and the end Origin: Greek Additional Info: The New Testament was first written in Greek. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek aplphabetand Omega is the last letter. Example: In the New Testament Book of Revelation, God says, “I am Alpha and Omega,” meaning that he is the beginning and end of all things. Part of Speech: noun

Tabula rasa Meaning: empty slate Origin: Latin Additional Info: Starting from scratch with no preconceptions, it can suggest open- ended or open-minded. Example: “If we can start from a tabula rasa, then anything is possible.” Part of Speech: noun

Hoi polloi Meaning: the masses; the common people Origin: Greek Additional Info: Carries a contemptuous and condescending overtone. Example: “She never mixed with the hoi polloi.” Part of Speech: noun

Ad nauseam Meaning: endlessly, to the point of nausea Origin: Latin 1616 Additional Info: Stronger than ad infinitum, and with more of a sense of boredom. Example: “She showed us holiday snaps ad nauseam.” Part of Speech: adverb

Carpe Diem Meaning: seize the day Origin: Latin 16 c. & 17 c. Additional Info: Equivalent to “enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think” or “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Example: “Carpe diem, boys, who knows what tomorrow brings.” Part of Speech: phrase or noun

Tempus fugit Meaning: time flies Origin: Latin Additional Info: Often with a surprised or wistful undertone. Example: “Ah, tempus fugit. It seems like only yesterday that we first met.” Part of Speech: phrase

C’est la vie Meaning: that’s life Origin: French Additional Info: An expression of resignation or submission to Fate. Example: “Sometimes all you can say is C’est la vie.” Part of Speech: phrase

Bona fide Meaning: in good faith Origin: Latin Additional Info: More generally (outside the more legal meaning) it means genuine or authentic. Example: “He was a bona fide noble of the realm.” Part of Speech: adjective

Savior faire Meaning: social tact Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “knowing how to do,” it is usually applied to higher social circles, but could equally well apply to any other circles. Example: “He showed a deal of savoir faire in adjusting to his new position.” Part of Speech: noun

Non sequitur Meaning: something that doesn’t follow Origin: Latin 1533 Additional Info: This can either refer to spurious or illogical reasoning, or to any statement which is out of place or off the point in a conversation. Example: “Sorry, you’ve lost me. That was a complete non sequitur.” Part of Speech: noun

i.e. (id est) Meaning: that is Origin: Latin 1598 Additional Info: Denotes an alternative explanation or formulation of what went before, not an example of it. See also exempli gratia (e.g.) Example: “She took her opinions to their logical conclusion, i.e. she killed him.” Part of Speech: Phrase

Enfant terrible Meaning: prodigy, boy/girl wonder Origin: French 1851 Additional Info: There is also an undertone of exasperating and unmanageable in the terrible as well as brilliant. Example: “He was considered the enfant terrible of his day, hugely talented but troublesome.” Part of Speech: noun

Terra firma Meaning: firm or solid land Origin: Latin Additional Info: Usually used to make a contradistinction from weeks or months at sea. Example: “It was with great gratitude that he stood on terra firma once more.” Part of Speech: noun

Vox populi Meaning: popular opinion or sentiment Origin: Latin Additional Info: Literally “voice of the people.” Example: “We should go with the vox populi on that one.” Part of Speech: noun

Ad hoc Meaning: for this purpose only Origin: Latin Additional Info: Often, but not necessarily, used in a negative way suggesting limitedness. Example: “In my opinion, that’s just an ad hoc solution.” Part of Speech: adjective or adverb

Cause célèbre Meaning: a celebrated case Origin: French Additional Info: Usually a legal case that generates widespread popular interest, possibly involving an element of scandal. Example: “The press made it into a national cause célèbre.” Part of Speech: noun

Magnum opus Meaning: great work Origin: Latin Additional Info: Usually applied to an artists greatest individual work, not just any great work. Example: “It has always been considered to be his magnum opus.” Part of Speech: noun

Persona non grata Meaning: unwelcome person Origin: Latin Additional Info: Often used to mean that someone has fallen from grace and is unwelcome is certain social circles. Example: “After that fiasco, I was persona non grata for quite some time.” Part of Speech: adjective

Quid pro quo Meaning: fair exchange Origin: Latin Additional Info: Literally “this for that,” it can have a slightly sarcastic undertone, as though indicating something closer to a bribe than a trade. Example: “He obviously saw it as a quid pro quo for the work he had done.” Part of Speech: noun

Je ne sais quoi Meaning: I don’t know what Origin: French Additional Info: Usually used in English as a noun. Example: “This wine has a certain je ne sais quoi.” Part of Speech: noun

Modus operandi Meaning: way of doing things Origin: Latin Additional Info: Used about criminals (sometimes abbreviated to M.O.) and others with a regular routine. Example: “He had a very definite modus operandi, especially at work.” Part of Speech: noun

Nom de plume Meaning: pseudonym Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “pen name,” a false name used by authors for a variety of motives. Nom de guerre is similar, but for military reasons. Example: “A modern author does not have to resort to a nom de plume as the likes of George Eliot did in her day.” Part of Speech: noun

Haute couture Meaning: trend- setting fashion Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “high dressmaking,” often used to describe any kind of high class or exclusive fashion. Example: “He is the kingpin of Paris’ haute couture.” Part of Speech: noun

Mea culpa Meaning: my fault Origin: Latin 1374 Additional Info: Used outside the Catholic mass to indicate any admission of guilt. Example: “No matter how many mea culpas he made, he would always be saddled with the blame.” Part of Speech: noun

Raison d’être Meaning: reason for being Origin: French Additional Info: The justification or cause of something’s existence. Example: “The whole raison d’être of the organization was to exploit people’s irrational fears.” Part of Speech: noun

Laissez faire Meaning: non- interference in the affairs of others Origin: French Additional Info: Usually used to mean a government policy of minimal regulation in a free enterprise system, but can also be used personally. In French literally means ‘leave alone.’ Example: “I thought this a rather laissez faire attitude, but I held my tongue.” Part of Speech: noun or adjective

Bête noire Meaning: annoyance, bugbear, insufferable person Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “black beast,” but not usually as strong as that translation suggests. Example: “After several such encounters, he became my bête noire.” Part of Speech: noun

En masse Meaning: in a mass; all together; as a group Origin: French Example: The protestors marched en masse to the capital. Part of Speech: adverb

In absentia Meaning: in the absence Origin: Latin late 1800’s Additional Info: Refers to the absence of someone who would normally have been present. Example: “The defendant was convicted in absentia.” Part of Speech: adverb (abbreviation: i.a.)

Sub rosa Meaning: in secret, in confidence Origin: Latin Additional Info: Literally “under the rose,” it is suggestive of inscrutability and the potential for scandal. Example: “The meeting was held sub rosa to avoid unnecessary publicity.” Part of Speech: noun or adverb

Schadenfreude Meaning: pleasure in the misfortune of others Origin: German Additional Info: Literally “hurtful joy,” the sense is of a guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless. Example: “I couldn’t help a touch of Schadenfreude at his dismissal.” Part of Speech: noun

Noblesse oblige Meaning: nobility obliges Origin: French Additional Info: Suggests that the privileged classes have some responsibility to give back as well. Example: “I didn’t intend to become so involved, but noblesse oblige.” Part of Speech: noun

Sine qua non Meaning: essential element or condition Origin: Latin 1602 Additional Info: Short for conditio sine qua non, “a condition without which nothing,” describes anything which is critical to the success of an enterprise. Example: “The chief’s wife was the sine qua non of the negotiations.” Part of Speech: noun

Deus ex machina Meaning: unexpected or improbable explanation Origin: Latin Additional Info: Literally “the god from the machine,” this was originally a Greek dramatic construction, but now used for any unwarranted character or event used to resolve a tangled literary plot. Example: “I thought the fairy godmother at the end was a bit of a deus ex machina.” Part of Speech: noun

Dopplegänger Meaning: ghostly double Origin: German Additional Info: Also used, less accurately, for a double or look-alike in the real world. Example: “I did a double-take as I came face to face with my Doppelgänger.” Part of Speech: noun

Coup d’état Meaning: sudden overthrow of a government Origin: French Additional Info: Literally “a blow against the state,” usually meaning a violent or illegal overthrow or revolution. Example: “It was just a matter of time before another coup d’éat occurred in that country’s chequered history.” Synonms: overthrow, rebellion, revolution, uprising Part of Speech: noun