Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English Created by

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

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

RSVP • Meaning: please reply • Origin: French 18951900 • 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 1900 1905 • 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 167080 • 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 20 c. 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 14901500 • 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; • Example: “Work hard and you can graduate with praise cum laude. ” • Origin: Latin 1872 • Part of Speech: • Additional Info: adverb used in diplomas to • See Also: Magna grant the lowest of cum laude (with great three special praise), summa cum honors for grades laude (with highest above the average. praise)

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

Esprit De Corps • Meaning: team spirit • Origin: French 177080 • 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 1475 -85 • 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, • Example: I’m old one enough to remember • Origin: Latin when the motto of the • Additional Info: It refers USA was “e pluribus to the Union formed by unum” not “in the separate states. E pluribus unum was Mc. Donalds we trust. ” adopted as a national • Part of Speech: motto in 1776 and is now found on the Great Seal Phrase of the United States and on United States currency.

Prima donna • Meaning: temperamental performer; first or principal singer in opera company • Origin: Italian 1760 -70 • 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 1475 -85 • 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 1825 -35 • 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 164555 • 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 1515 -25 • 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 1525 -35 • 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 181525 • 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