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

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

1895-1900 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

1670-80 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


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.”


Bon voyage Meaning: have a

pleasant trip Origin: French

1490- 1500 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.”


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.”


Esprit De Corps Meaning: team

spirit Origin: French


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


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,

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 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!”


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.”


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.”


Carte blanche Meaning: a free

hand, a blank cheque

Origin: French 1645-55

Additional Info: Literally “white (blank) card.”

Example: “He gave me carte blanche to finish it any way I liked.”


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.”


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.


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.”


Hoi polloi Meaning: the

masses; the common people

Origin: Greek 1815-25

Additional Info: Carries a contemptuous and condescending overtone.

Example: “She never mixed with the hoi polloi.”


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

1935-45 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 1805-15 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.”


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.”


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.”


Terra firma Meaning: firm or

solid land Origin: Latin 1595-

1605 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.”


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.”


Ad hoc Meaning: for this

purpose only Origin: Latin


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 1755-65 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.”


Magnum opus Meaning: great

work Origin: Latin


Usually applied to an artists greatest individual work, not just any great work.

Example: “It has always been considered to be his magnum opus.”


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 1555-65 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.”


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.”


Modus operandi Meaning: way of doing

things Origin: Latin 1645-55 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.”


Nom de plume Meaning: pseudonym Origin: French 1815-25 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.”


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.”


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.”


Raison d’être Meaning: reason for

being Origin: French


The justification or cause of something’s existence.

Example: “The whole raison d’être of the organization was to exploit people’s irrational fears.”


Laissez faire Meaning: non-

interference in the affairs of others

Origin: French 1815-25 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 1835-45 Additional Info:

Literally “black beast,” but not usually as strong as that translation suggests.

Example: “After several such encounters, he became my bête noire.”


En masse Meaning: in a mass;

all together; as a group

Origin: French 1795-1805

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 1920-25 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 1890-

95 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.”


Noblesse oblige Meaning: nobility

obliges Origin: French


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.”


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.”


Deus ex machina Meaning: unexpected or

improbable explanation Origin: Latin 1690-1700 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.”


Dopplegänger Meaning: ghostly

double Origin: German


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.”


Coup d’état Meaning: sudden

overthrow of a government

Origin: French 1640-50 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


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

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