A list of French words & phrases used by English speakers
bon mot -well chosen word(s), particularly a witty remark
les boules- (vulgar) literally “the balls”; meaning that whatever you are talking about is dreadful
Cherchez la femme- literally “look for the woman.” The implication is that a man behaves out of character or in an otherwise inexplicable manner because he is trying to cover up an affair with a woman, or trying to impress or gain favor with a woman.
- coup de foudre -literally thunderbolt (“strike of thunder”); a sudden unforeseen event, usually used to describe love at first sight.
- en plein air -literally “in the open air,” and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
- esprit de l’escalier- “wit of the stairs” : a concise, clever statement you don’t think of until too late, e.g. on the stairs leaving the scene.
