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i.e. unacompanied voices. A priori From what comes before. Ad absurdum To the point of absurdity. Ad hoc For this purpose. Ad infinitum Without limit - endlessly. Ad nauseam To a sickenin e!tent. Alma Mater "ne#s old school $literally #bounteous mother#%. Alter ego "ther $alternative% self. Annus horribilis & horrible year. Agnus Dei 'amb of (od. Aqua pura )ure water. Aqua vitae &lcoholic spirit, e. . brandy*whisky. 'iterally #water of life#. Ars longa, vita brevis +kill takes time to ac,uire, but life is short. Ave Maria -ail Mary. Carpe diem +ei.e the day $More literally translated as #en/oy the day, pluck it when it is ripe#%. Caveat emptor 'et the buyer beware. Cogito ergo sum 0 think, therefore 0 am. Corpus Christi
The body of 1hrist. De facto 0n fact - in reality. Dei Gratia 2y the race of (od. Pluribus !num "ne from many. t cetera "etc.# &nd the rest. t tu, $rute &nd you, 2rutus. % libris #"ut of the books#, i.e. from the library. Gloria in e%celsis deo (lory to (od in the hi hest. &abeas corpus 3ou must have the body $in court%. 'n absentia 0n one#s absence. 'n camera 0n private chamber. 'n flagrante delicto 0n the act of committin an offence. 'n loco parentis 0n the place of a parent. 'n vitro 0n a test tube $literally #in lass#%. 'pso facto 2y that very fact. Magnum opus & reat work. Mea culpa My fault. Modus operandi "m.o.# Mode of operatin . (olens volens Willin ly or unwillin ly $see also, willy-nilly%. Post partum &fter childbirth. Praemonitus, praemunitus Forewarned is forearmed. Prima facie
&t first si ht4 on the face of it. Pro bono Without char e - for the public ood. )pus Dei The work of (od. *uid pro quo +omethin for somethin , i.e. a favour for a favour. *uo vadis+ Where are you oin 5 ,igor mortis The ri idity of death. -emper fidelis &lways faithful. -ine qua non 0ndispensable. -tatus quo The current state of affairs. -ub .udice 2efore a court. /empus fugit Time flees. /erra firma +olid round. !rbi et orbi To the city and to the lobe. 0eni vidi vici 0 came, 0 saw, 0 con,uered. 0ice versa The other way around. 0ivat ,egina 'on live the ,ueen. 0o% populi )eoples voice
Au naturel 6ndressed or #in a natural state#. Au pair & youn forei ner, usually female, who undertakes domestic tasks in e!chan e for accommodation. Au revoir Farewell for the time bein . +ometimes iven in =n lish in the /okey au reservoir version. Avant garde The pioneers or innovators in art in a particular period. &lso, a military term, meanin van uard or advance uard. $elle 4poque #2eautiful era# - the olden a e of art and culture in France in the early 89th century. $7te noire & pet peeve. & thin or person found particularly unwelcome and to be avoided. $illet dou% & short love letter or note. $on app4tit #(ood appetite# - >=n/oy your food>. $on mot 1lever, witty remark. $on vivant #(ood liver# - a person who en/oys life, especially #wine, women and son #. $on voyage -ave a ood trip. Caf4 au lait 1offee with milk. Carte blanche -avin free rein to choose whatever course of action you want. Cause c4l5bre &n issue arousin widespread controversy or debate. &n =n lish invention, rarely used in France. C8est la vie That#s life or such is life. "ften used in disappointed resi nation followin some bad
fortune. Chaise longue #'on chair# - a form of sofa with an elon ated seat lon enou h to support the le s. "ften erroneously called a chaise loun e in the 6+&. This isn#t the derivation of either the noun or verb loun e, which both lon pre-date the invention of chaise lon ues. Charg4 & diplomat, temporarily in char e of business. Cherche9 la femme 'iterally, >look for the woman.> Cin4ma v4rit4 & form of filmmakin that combines documentary-style techni,ues to tell a story. Cordon bleu -i h ,uality, especially of cookin . Cordon sanitaire & political or medical buffer .one. Coup d84tat &n abrupt overthrow of a overnment throu h unconstitutional means, for e!ample, by force, or by occupation of overnment structures durin the leader#s absence. Coup de gr:ce "ri inally a blow by which one condemned or mortally wounded is #put out of his misery#. Fi uratively, a finishin stroke, one that settles or puts an end to somethin . Cr5me br;l4e #2urnt cream# - baked custard with a carmeli.ed crust Cr5me caramel & flan. & custard dessert with a layer or caramel on top. Cr5me de la cr5me The best of the best. 'iterally the cream of the cream. Cri de coeur #1ry of the heart# - a heartfelt cry of an uish. Cul3de3sac & thorou hfare that is closed at one end - a blind
alley. &lso, fi uratively, a venture leadin to no successful outcome. D4.< vu The feelin of havin seen or e!perienced somethin before. 'iterally #already seen#. De rigueur "bli atory or e!pected, especially with reference to fashion. Double entendre & word or phrase that has a double meanin one of which is often vul ar or se!ual in nature. & staple form of 2ritish toilet humor - 1arry "n films would be virtually silent without it. For e!ample, see # one for a )# in wee-wee. Do .our
#"f the day#
=minence grise & powerful adviser or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially. 'iterally # rey eminence#. nfant terrible literally, a >terrible child>. 0t is sometimes used to describe unruly children. More commonly, it is used in relation to adults who cause trouble by unorthodo! or ill-considered speech or behavior - especially those who have habitually done this from an early a e. n masse >0n a roup4 all to ether. n passant 0n passin . n route "n the way. n suite )art of a set, especially a series of rooms that ad/oin each other formin a suite. sprit de corps The re ard entertained by the members of a roup, especially a military unit, for the honour and interests of the roup as a whole. 'iterally, #spirit of the corps#. 1ait accompli
&n irreversible action that has happened before those affected by it knew of its e!istence. 1au% pas & social blunder, causin embarrassment or loss of reputation. 'iterally, a #false step#. 1ilm noir & bleak cinemato raphic style, usually dark visually and in storyline terms. 1emme fatale & dan erously attractive woman. 1leur de Lis The heraldic lily4 a device supposed by some to have ori inally represented an iris, by others the top of a sceptre, of a battle-a!e or other weapon. 1orce ma.eure 0rresistible force or overwhelmin power. Grand pri% The premier events of several sports, especially the races in the Formula 0 motor racin championship. 'iterally, # rand pri.e#. &aute couture #-i h sewin # - trend-settin hi h fashion. &lso, the collective name for the leadin dressmakers and desi ners. &aute cuisine -i h class cookin . 'iterally, #upper kitchen#. &ors de combat #"ut of combat# - unable to fi ht. &ors d8oeuvres &n e!tra dish served as a relish to whet the appetite, normally at the start of a meal. ?e ne sais quoi &n indescribable or ine!pressible somethin . 'iterally, #0 know not what#. ?oie de vivre & feelin of healthy en/oyment of life4 e!uberance, hi h spirits. Laisse93faire The principle that overnment should not interfere with the action of individuals. &lso, more enerally, a policy of indul ence towards the actions of others. 'iterally, #let $people% do
$as they think best%#. L8esprit de l8escalier This isn#t actually widely adopted into =n lish. 0 include it here in the hope that it mi ht become so. 0t means - thinkin of a suitable retort or remark after the opportunity to make it has passed. 'iterally, #the wit of the staircase#. Mal de mer +easickness. Mardi gras The last day of the 1arnival or pre-'enten season. 'iterally, #Fat Tuesday#, called +hrove Tuesday in the 6?. M4nage < trois #-ousehold of three# - three people in a se!ual relationship. Merci beaucoup Thank you very much. Mot .uste =!actly the ri ht word or e!pression. (8est3ce pas+ 0s it not so5 (oblesse oblige The responsibility conferred by rank. 'iterally, #noble rank entails responsibility#. (om de guerre & name assumed by individuals en a ed in a military enterprise or espiona e, usually in order to conceal their true identity. 'iterally, #war name#. (om de plume &n assumed name under which a person writes or publishes. 'iterally, #pen name#. (ouveau riche #:ewly rich# - a snobbish term for a persoon who has come into money but has not developed the manners e!pected of wealthy people. (ouvelle cuisine & form of cookin of the mid 89th century that emphasi.ed li htness and decorative form. )b.et d8art
&n #art ob/ect#. Papier m:ch4 & material used for scultural artwork and craftwork. 'iterally #mashed paper#. Par e%cellence )re-eminently supreme - above all others. Pas de deu% 0mpossible to avoid the corny #father of twins# /oke here. The real meanin is a dance $typically a ballet%, and in e!tended use a partnership, between two people. Petit four & small dessert - usually a dainty cake. Petit mal #+mall illness# - a mild epilepsy. Petit point +mall stitchin , used in needlepoint. Pi5ce de r4sistance The best part or feature of somethin , especially of a meal. Pied3<3terre & second home, typically an apartment in the city. Pr7t3<3porter @eady-to-wear clothin . Pot3pourri & mi!ture of dried petals of different flowers mi!ed with spices, kept in a /ar for its perfume. &lso, a stew made from a variety of meats cooked to ether. 2y e!tension, any collection of miscellaneous items. *uelle horreur What a horrible thin . This is fre,uently used sardonically, when the #horror# is trivial. *u8est3ce que c8est+ What is this5 ,aison d87tre The thin that is central to our e!istence. 'iterally, #reason for bein #. ,-0P
)lease respond $to my messa e%. 'iterally the abbreviation of #@Aponde., s#il vous plaBt#. -acr4 bleu This eneral mild e!clamation of shock is the archetypal French phrase, as viewed by the =n lish. :o portrayal of a sta e Frenchman in an =n lish farce could be complete without a character in a beret and striped /umper, shru in his shoulders and mutterin #+acrA bleuC#. 'iterally, #holy blue#, which refers to the colour associated with the Dir in Mary. -ang3froid 1oolness, indifference. 'iterally, #cold blood#. -avoir3faire +ocial race4 means know-how in French. -8il vous pla@t )lease. 'iterally, #if it pleases you#. -oupe du .our #+oup of the day# - the soup offered by a restaurant that day. /able d8hAte & full-course meal offerin a limited number of choices and served at a fi!ed price in a restaurant or hotel. /7te3<3t7te & private meetin between two people. 'iterally, #head-to-head#. /out de suite &t once. /our de force & masterly stroke or feat of stren th or skill. 'iterally, #feat of stren th#. /rompe l8Bil &n art techni,ue involvin hi h levels of realism in order to create the illusion that the depicted ob/ects are real rather than paintin s. 'iterally, #trick the eye#. 0is3<3vis 0n a position facin another. 'iterally #face to face#. "ften now used in the sense of #in relation to#.
0ive la diff4rence. 'on live the difference $between male and female%. 0ol3auvent & small, li ht savoury pastry. 'iterally #fli ht of the wind#. Cut alors & eneral e!clamation. 'ike +acrA bleu, this is more likely to be spoken by pretend Frenchmen than by real ones.