phrases from other languages Flashcards
Nom de guerre
Alias
Lese majeste
Law against defaming crown
Vieux Jeu
Old fashioned, hackneyed
Fete
A public function, typically held outdoors and organized to raise funds for a charity, including entertainment and the sale of goods and refreshments.
Raison d’etre
‘Reason for being’
Laissez-faire
The policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering.
Et al
And others
Cul-de sac
Dead end
Carte Blanche
‘blank cheque’, freedom to act as one wills
Ad Nauseam
Used to refer to the fact that something has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome.
Mea Culpa
Admission of wrongdoing
Seraglio
Room where Muslim women live together
Tête-à-tête
A private conversation between two persons
Bric-a-brac
small decorative objects of various types and of no great value
Avant-Garde
new and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature.
Joie de vivre
French phrase often used in English to express a cheerful enjoyment of life, an exultation of spirit, and general happiness
Soirée
An evening party
Enfant Terrible
A child who is terrifyingly candid by saying embarrassing things to parents or others
Persona non grata
an unacceptable or unwelcome person (diplomatic) [e.g an ambassador]
Modus vivendi
Way of living
Pas de deux
A (ballet) dance duet
Casus belli
An act or situation that provokes or justifies a war [e.g Pearl Harbour]
