Unit 3 Lesson 23 Flashcards
Bête noire
Someone or something which is feared or disliked
Avant-garde
The leader of a movement; vanguard
Bon mot
A bright saying; witticism
Coup de grace
The shot or blow which brings death; the finishing stroke
Cul-de-sac
A passage or street with only one outlet; a situation from which there is no escape; an argument which leads nowhere
Dues ex machina
Someone who intervenes unexpectedly to solve a dilemma
Fait accompli
Something that is already done so that there is no use in debating it
Fin de siècle
Referring to the last years of the 19th century; decadent
Gauche
Awkward; lacking grace; without tact
Junta
A political group which seeks to control a government; a faction or cabal
Laissez-faire
Hands-off policy; letting business operate without government interference
Mot juste
The right word; exact phrase
Non compos mentis
Incapable of handling one’s own affairs; insane.
Non sequitur
In logic this is a conclusion which does not follow from the evidence; a remark which seems out of place
Sine qua non
An essential condition; that which is indispensable
