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Commonly Used Foreign Words and Phrases
Déjà vu
• Psychology. the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time./disagreeable familiarity or sameness—”The new television season had a sense of déjà vu about it—the same old plots and characters with new names.”
RSVPVerb (used without object) – to reply to an invitation: Don’t
forget to RSVP before Thursday. Noun (a reply to an invitation) – He sent a lovely bouquet of
flowers with his RSVPUsed on an invitation to indicate that the favor of a reply is
requested.From the French phrase “repondez s’il vous plait”
Faux pasA slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an
embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion
Du jourAs prepared on the particular day; of the kind being
served today
“The soup du jour is split pea.
du = of
jour = day
Bon voyage
Interjection – Have a pleasant trip!
femme fataleAn irresistibly attractive woman, expecially one who
leads men into difficult, dangerous, or disastrous sitiuations;
a siren
esprit de corps
a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, or enterprise, etc.
avant-garde the advance group in any field, especially in the
visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods
joie de vivrea delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of
living
carte blancheUnconditional authority; full discretionary power
savoir faireNoun – knowledge of just what to do in any situation;
tact
enfant terribleAn incorrigible child, as one whose behavior is embarrassingAn outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does
indiscreet or irresponsible thingsA person whose work, thought, or lifestyle is so unconventional
or avant-garde as to appear revolutionary or shocking
alma mater a school, college, or university at which one has
studied and, usually, from which one has graduated
cum laude An academic honor given at graduation
(Magna cum laude: with high honors)
(Summa cum laude: the highest academic distinction)
verbatim in exactly the same words; word for word
“to repeat something verbatim”
E pluribus unum
out of many, one
(motto of the United States)
prima donnaa first or principal female singer of an opera company
a temperamental person
a person who takes adulation and privileged treatment as a right and reacts with petulance to criticism or inconvenience
status quo
the existing state or condition
caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware: the princi;le that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty
Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of something
(Revelation 1:8)
the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet
tabula rasaa mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions,
etc.
anything existing undisturbed in its original, pure state
hoe polloi the common people; the masses
(often preceded by the)
ad nauseam
(adverb) – to a sickening or disgusting
degree
carpe diem Seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to
placing all hope in the future
tempus fugit Time flies.
bona fide (adjective) – made, done, presented, etc., in good
faith
Without deception or fraud
Authentic
True
“a bona fide sample of Lincoln’s handwriting”
non sequitur(noun) - an inference or a conclusion that does not
follow from the premises
a statement containing an illogical conclusion
terra firmaFirm or solid earth
Dry land (as opposed to water or air)
vox populi the voice of the people; popular opinion