Foreign Expressions in English

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about foreign expressions in English.

vis à vis

with regard to

raison d'être

a reason for being

Prima donna

a diva, someone with an inflated sense of self-worth who treats subordinates with disdain

Double entendre

something with two meanings, one overt and one less obvious; often, the suggestion is of a shocking or risqué nature

tour de force

a dazzling exhibition of skill or strength

Weltschmerz

a state of depression usually induced by excessive idealism

je ne sais quoi

an ineffable, indescribable thing

Coup d’Etat

a violent overthrow of state

comme il faut

strictly by the book, to the point of being a bit boring and predictable

Blitzkrieg

lightning war; a quick and overwhelming military campaign

sotto voce

"under the voice" or words spoken softly in private

mogul

a rich and powerful person or magnate

fiasco

an epic fail or a total disaster

force majeure

an overwhelming force that is out of one’s control and that can be accepted as a legitimate excuse

da capo

from the beginning

aficionado

a devoted fan

mazel tov

Congrats!

carte blanche

absolute liberty to do whatever one wants

lingua franca

common language

laissez-faire

literally means to “let do”; used in Economics to describe a lack of government intervention in commerce

chutzpah

audacity, boldness, temerity

fait accompli

a finished matter

Weltanschauung

a worldview, perspective on things

Zeitgeist

the spirit of the times

nouveau riche

the new rich; those who have recently come onto wealth as opposed to those who are wealthy through inheritance

Schadenfreude

pleasure in another’s pain

enfant terrible

a controversial person who aims to shock others

Wunderkind

a prodigy; someone who achieves great success while young

dolce vita

the sweet life

guru

originally a Hindu sage but can now mean anyone who has achieved influential status as a teacher

wanderlust

desire to travel

nudnik

an annoying person

esprit de corps

camaraderie, team spirit

faux pas

literally a false step; an awkward social move

savoir faire

know how, competency

Doppelgänger

someone with an uncanny resemblance to another person

Cosa nostra

the mafia

hoi polloi

common folk, the masses

verboten

forbidden, taboo