French Expressions Vocabulary

ordering individual items from a menu rather than a set meal

“We ordered à la carte to try different dishes.”

Origin: French: à `in the` + la `the` + carte `card/menu`; literally `according to the menu`

fashionable; in style; or served with ice cream

“Apple pie à la mode is a classic American dessert.”

Origin: French: à `in the` + la `the` + mode `fashion/style`; literally `in the fashion`

on the contrary; quite the opposite

“You think I'm upset? Au contraire, I'm delighted!”

Origin: French: au `to the` + contraire `contrary/opposite`

fully informed; up to date with current events

“She stays au courant with industry trends.”

Origin: French: au `in the` + courant `current/running` (from courir `to run`); literally `in the current`

new and experimental ideas, especially in art

“The avant-garde film challenged conventional storytelling.”

Origin: French: avant `before` + garde `guard`; literally `vanguard` (military term for advance guard)

enjoy your meal (said before eating)

“The chef wished us bon appétit as he served the dish.”

Origin: French: bon `good` + appétit `appetite`; literally `good appetite`

have a good journey (farewell to travelers)

“They shouted bon voyage as the ship departed.”

Origin: French: bon `good` + voyage `journey/voyage`

complete freedom to act as one wishes

“The director was given carte blanche on the project.”

Origin: French: carte `card/document` + blanche `white/blank`; literally `blank card` (originally a blank military document with only a signature)

that's life; such is life (acceptance of circumstances)

“The flight was canceled—c'est la vie.”

Origin: French: c`est `it is` + la `the` + vie `life`; literally `that`s life`

a masterpiece; an outstanding work

“The painting is considered her chef-d'oeuvre.”

Origin: French: chef `chief/head` + d` `of` + oeuvre `work`; literally `chief work` or `main work'

an overused phrase or idea that has lost originality

“Avoid clichés in your writing.”

Origin: French: cliché `stereotype` (past participle of clicher `to stereotype`); from printing term for a stereotype plate that makes the same impression repeatedly

a final blow that ends something; a finishing stroke

“The scandal was the coup de grâce for his career.”

Origin: French: coup `blow/stroke` + de `of` + grâce `mercy/grace`; literally `blow of mercy` (death blow to end suffering)

a sudden seizure of power from a government

“The military staged a coup d'état overnight.”

Origin: French: coup `blow/stroke` + d` `of` + état `state`; literally `blow of state` or `stroke of state'

the best of the best; the elite

“These students are the crème de la crème.”

Origin: French: crème `cream` + de `of` + la `the` + crème `cream`; literally `cream of the cream` (the cream that rises to the top)

the feeling of having experienced something before

“Walking into the room gave me an eerie sense of déjà vu.”

Origin: French: déjà `already` + vu `seen` (past participle of voir `to see`); literally `already seen`

a word or phrase with two meanings, one usually risqué

“His comedy was full of clever double entendres.”

Origin: French: double `double` + entendre `to hear/understand` (obsolete phrase; modern French uses `double sens`); literally `double meaning`

all together; as a group

“The employees resigned en masse in protest.”

Origin: French: en `in` + masse `mass/group`; literally `in a mass`

on the way; during the journey

“We stopped for coffee en route to the airport.”

Origin: French: en `on/in` + route `road/route`; literally `on the road`

a person who behaves unconventionally or controversially

“The enfant terrible of modern art shocked critics again.”

Origin: French: enfant `child` + terrible `terrible/dreadful`; literally `terrible child` (one who embarrasses elders with shocking behavior)

a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty within a group

“The team's esprit de corps was evident in their celebration.”

Origin: French: esprit `spirit` + de `of` + corps `body/group`; literally `spirit of the body`

something already done and irreversible

“By the time we arrived, the merger was a fait accompli.”

Origin: French: fait `fact/deed` (past participle of faire `to do`) + accompli `accomplished/completed`; literally `accomplished fact`

an embarrassing social blunder or mistake

“Wearing jeans to the gala was a major faux pas.”

Origin: French: faux `false` + pas `step`; literally `false step` or `misstep`

an attractive woman who leads men into danger

“The film noir featured a classic femme fatale.”

Origin: French: femme `woman` + fatale `fatal/deadly`; literally `fatal woman`

a man/woman engaged to be married

“She introduced her fiancé to her parents.”

Origin: French: fiancé(e) `betrothed` (past participle of fiancer `to betroth`, from fiance `trust/confidence`); literally `one promised in marriage`

high fashion; exclusive custom-fitted clothing

“The designer's haute couture collection debuted in Paris.”

Origin: French: haute `high` + couture `sewing/dressmaking` (from coudre `to sew`); literally `high sewing` or `high fashion`

an indefinable, attractive quality

“She has a certain je ne sais quoi that captivates everyone.”

Origin: French: je `I` + ne `not` + sais `know` + quoi `what`; literally `I don`t know what'

exuberant enjoyment of life

“His joie de vivre was infectious at parties.”

Origin: French: joie `joy` + de `of` + vivre `to live/living`; literally `joy of living`

a policy of non-interference; letting things take their course

“The government adopted a laissez-faire approach to the economy.”

Origin: French: laissez `let/allow` (imperative of laisser) + faire `to do/make`; literally `let do` or `allow to act`

a pen name; pseudonym used by writers

“Mark Twain was his nom de plume.”

Origin: French: nom `name` + de `of` + plume `pen/feather`; literally `pen name` (actually a pseudo-French phrase created in English)

people who have recently acquired wealth but lack refinement

“The nouveau riche flaunted their money ostentatiously.”

Origin: French: nouveau `new` + riche `rich/wealthy`; literally `newly rich`

the most important or impressive item

“The chocolate soufflé was the pièce de résistance of dinner.”

Origin: French: pièce `piece/item` + de `of` + résistance `resistance`; literally `piece of resistance` (the dish that will withstand all comparison)

the most important reason for existence

“Innovation is the company's raison d'être.”

Origin: French: raison `reason` + d` `of` + être `to be/being`; literally `reason for being'

a meeting at an agreed time and place

“They arranged a secret rendez-vous at midnight.”

Origin: French: rendez `present` (imperative of rendre `to render/return`) + vous `yourself`; literally `present yourself` or `betake yourself`

the ability to act appropriately in social situations

“Her savoir-faire impressed the diplomats.”

Origin: French: savoir `to know` + faire `to do/make`; literally `knowing how to do` or `know-how`

a private conversation between two people

“They had a tête-à-tête over coffee.”

Origin: French: tête `head` + à `to` + tête `head`; literally `head to head`

an impressive display of skill or achievement

“Her performance was a tour de force.”

Origin: French: tour `turn/feat` + de `of` + force `strength/force`; literally `feat of strength`

in relation to; compared with; face to face

“We need to discuss our position vis-à-vis the competition.”

Origin: French: vis `face` (from Old French vis, from Latin visus `sight`) + à `to` + vis `face`; literally `face to face`

there it is; used to call attention to something

“Add the final ingredient and voilà—dinner is served!”

Origin: French: voi `see` (imperative of voir `to see`) + là `there`; literally `see there` or `look there`

unforeseeable circumstances that prevent fulfillment of a contract

“The pandemic was declared a force majeure event.”

Origin: French: force `force` + majeure `major/superior`; literally `superior force` (irresistible force)

a friendly understanding or informal alliance between states

“The diplomatic entente ensured peace between the nations.”

Origin: French: entente `understanding/agreement` (from entendre `to hear/understand`); literally `understanding`