Common Foreign Words And Phrases Flashcard

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RSVP

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stands for "Respondez s'il vous plait" or "please answer"; a reply to an invitation (French)

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terms list

RSVP

stands for "Respondez s'il vous plait" or "please answer"; a reply to an invitation (French)

déjà vu

the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time; literally, "already seen" (French)

du jour

1. as prepared on the particular day; of the kind being served today 2. fashionable; current; literally "of the day" (French)

faux pas

a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion; literally, "false step" (French)

bon voyage

an organized expression of goodwill at the start of a trip or new venture; literally, "have a pleasant trip" (French)

alma mater

the school from which one graduates; literally "nurturing mother" (Latin)

cum laude

used in diplomas to grant the lowest of three special honors for grades above the average; literally, "with honor" (Latin)

femme fatale

an irresistibly attractive woman, especially one who leads men into difficult, dangerous, or disastrous situations; siren; literally "fatal woman" (French)

esprit de corps

a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group; team spirit (French)

verbatim

in exactly the same words; word for word (Latin)

E pluribus unum

literally, "out of many, one"--motto of the U.S. (Latin)

prima donna

1. a distinguished female operatic singer; a leading female operatic star; a diva 2. a person that's considered vain, temperamental and/or conceited; literally, "first lady" (Italian)

avant-garde

cutting edge; new; experimental; innovative--especially in the arts (French)

status quo

the existing condition or state of affairs (Latin)

joie de vivre

a keen enjoyment of living (French)

carte blanche

unrestricted power to act at one's own discretion; complete freedom (French)

caveat emptor

the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty; literally "let the buyer beware" (Latin)

alpha and omega

the first and last; beginning and end (Greek)

tabula rasa

a mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc; anything existing undisturbed in its original pure state; literally "blank slate" (Latin)

hoi polloi

the common people; the masses (Greek)

ad nauseam

endlessly, to the point of nausea (Latin)

carpe diem

literally "seize the day"; enjoy the day, take the opportunity (Latin)

tempus fugit

literally "time flies" (Latin)

c'est la vie

such is life; literally, "that's life" (French)

bona fide

made or carried out in good faith; genuine; sincere (Latin)

savoir faire

ability to say and do the right thing at the right time; tact; poise; sophistocation (French)

non sequitur

an idea or statement that does not follow logically from evidence (Latin)

id est

that is to say; in other words (Latin)

enfant terrible

a famous or successful person who likes to shock people; a person whose unconventional behavior embarrasses others; literally "terrible child." (French)