1. Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English
Created by, Laurie Stansbury
ENG II

2. e.g. (exempli gratia) Meaning: for example Origin: Latin
Additional Info: Literally “for the sake of an example.” Not to be confused with id est.
Example: “There were several type of tree in the forest e.g. beech, oak, birch, maple.”
Part of Speech: adverb (abbreviation)

3. RSVP Meaning: please reply Origin: French 1895-1900
Additional Info: In French: répondez s’il vous plaît
Example: “Don't forget to RSVP before Thursday.”
Part of Speech: verb or noun

4. Déjà vu
Meaning: illusion of having experienced something already
Origin: French
Additional Info: Can refer to something which has in fact happened before or, more commonly, to a false sensation or illusion. Often carries an unpleasant or creepy connotation.
Example: “I had a weird feeling of déjà vu as I entered the old house.”
Part of Speech: noun

5. Faux pas Meaning: social blunder Origin: French 1670-80
Additional Info: Literally “false step,” it is usually used for a breach of etiquette.
Example: “She soon realized that she had committed a grave faux pas.”
Synonyms: error, impropriety
Part of Speech: noun

6. Du jour Example: “Environmentalism is the big issue du jour.”
Meaning: of the day
Origin: French
early 20c. on menus
Additional Info: As well as meaning food prepared for a particular day (e.g. soup du jour), it has come to mean anything fashionable, current or trendy.
Example: “Environmentalism is the big issue du jour.”
Part of Speech: noun

7. Bon voyage Meaning: have a pleasant trip Origin: French 1490- 1500
Additional Info: Used to express farewell and good wishes to a departing traveler.
Example: “He yelled, ‘Bon Voyage’ as the ship pulled away from the dock.”
Part of Speech: interjection

8. Alma mater Meaning: one’s old university or school Origin: Latin 1710
Additional Info: Literally “nourishing mother.” The term also refers to a school's official song.
Example: “My alma mater keeps asking me for donations.”
Part of Speech: noun

9. Cum laude Meaning: with honor; with praise Origin: Latin 1872
Additional Info: used in diplomas to grant the lowest of three special honors for grades above the average.
Example: “Work hard and you can graduate cum laude.”
Part of Speech: adverb
See Also: Magna cum laude (with great praise), summa cum laude (with highest praise)

10. Femme fatale Meaning: attractive, dangerous woman Origin: French
Additional Info: Literally “deadly woman,” used to mean a woman likely to lead someone to ruin, even if not death.
Example: “She had the air of a femme fatale, and I was instantly on my guard.”
Part of Speech: noun

11. Esprit De Corps Meaning: team spirit Origin: French 1770-80
Additional Info: Military in origin, but now more generally applied.
Example: The sales department was well known for its esprit de corps.
Synonym: camaraderie, bonding, solidarity, fellowship
Part of Speech: noun

12. Verbatim Meaning: in exactly the same words Origin: Latin 1475-85
Additional Info: skilled at recording word-for-word accuracy
Example: Take down my speech verbatim.
Part of Speech: adverb or adjective

13. E pluribus unum
Meaning: out of many, one
Origin: Latin
Additional Info: It refers to the Union formed by the separate states. E pluribus unum was adopted as a national motto in 1776 and is now found on the Great Seal of the United States and on United States currency.
Example: I’m old enough to remember when the motto of the USA was “e pluribus unum” not “in McDonalds we trust.”
Part of Speech: Phrase

14. Prima donna Example: “She may be good, but what a prima donna!”
Meaning: temperamental performer; first or principal singer in opera company
Origin: Italian
Additional Info: Indicates a vain, difficult personality, but one who is indispensable due to their talent and style.
Example: “She may be good, but what a prima donna!”
Part of Speech: noun

15. Avant-garde Example: “It was all a bit avant-garde for my tastes.”
Meaning: radically original, cutting edge
Origin: French
Additional Info: Literally “advance guard” or first to attack, applied to radically innovative movements in the arts, sometimes with a sarcastic suggestion of the bizarre or incomprehensible.
Example: “It was all a bit avant-garde for my tastes.”
Part of Speech: noun or adjective

16. Status quo Meaning: current state of affairs; state in which
Origin: Latin
Additional Info: Sometimes used to give the impression of excessive safety and resistance to change.
Example: “He’s too comfortable with the status quo.”
Part of Speech: noun

17. Joie de vivre Meaning: joy of life Origin: French
Additional Info: Implies an openness to new experiences and an exuberance and effervescence.
Example: “She was so full of joie de vivre that she was positively glowing.”
Part of Speech: noun

18. Carte blanche Meaning: a free hand, a blank cheque
Origin: French
Additional Info: Literally “white (blank) card.”
Example: “He gave me carte blanche to finish it any way I liked.”
Part of Speech: noun

19. Caveat emptor
Meaning: let the buyer beware
Origin: Latin
Additional Info: In the absence of a warranty, the buyer should take care what he is buying, and assumes the risk of the quality of a product.
Example: “It’s a reliable store, but still, caveat emptor.”
Part of Speech: noun

20. Alpha and omega
Meaning: the beginning and the end
Origin: Greek
Additional Info: The New Testament was first written in Greek. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek aplphabetand Omega is the last letter.
Example: In the New Testament Book of Revelation, God says, “I am Alpha and Omega,” meaning that he is the beginning and end of all things.
Part of Speech: noun

21. Tabula rasa Meaning: empty slate Origin: Latin 1525-35
Additional Info: Starting from scratch with no preconceptions, it can suggest open-ended or open-minded.
Example: “If we can start from a tabula rasa, then anything is possible.”
Part of Speech: noun

22. Hoi polloi Meaning: the masses; the common people
Origin: Greek
Additional Info: Carries a contemptuous and condescending overtone.
Example: “She never mixed with the hoi polloi.”
Part of Speech: noun

23. Ad nauseam Meaning: endlessly, to the point of nausea
Origin: Latin 1616
Additional Info: Stronger than ad infinitum, and with more of a sense of boredom.
Example: “She showed us holiday snaps ad nauseam.”
Part of Speech: adverb

24. Carpe Diem Meaning: seize the day Origin: Latin 16 c. & 17 c.
Additional Info: Equivalent to “enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think” or “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
Example: “Carpe diem, boys, who knows what tomorrow brings.”
Part of Speech: phrase or noun

25. Tempus fugit Meaning: time flies Origin: Latin
Additional Info: Often with a surprised or wistful undertone.
Example: “Ah, tempus fugit. It seems like only yesterday that we first met.”
Part of Speech: phrase

26. C’est la vie Meaning: that’s life Origin: French
Additional Info: An expression of resignation or submission to Fate.
Example: “Sometimes all you can say is C’est la vie.”
Part of Speech: phrase

27. Bona fide Meaning: in good faith Origin: Latin 1935-45
Additional Info: More generally (outside the more legal meaning) it means genuine or authentic.
Example: “He was a bona fide noble of the realm.”
Part of Speech: adjective

28. Savior faire
Meaning: social tact
Origin: French
Additional Info: Literally “knowing how to do,” it is usually applied to higher social circles, but could equally well apply to any other circles.
Example: “He showed a deal of savoir faire in adjusting to his new position.”
Part of Speech: noun

29. Non sequitur
Meaning: something that doesn’t follow
Origin: Latin 1533
Additional Info: This can either refer to spurious or illogical reasoning, or to any statement which is out of place or off the point in a conversation.
Example: “Sorry, you’ve lost me. That was a complete non sequitur.”
Part of Speech: noun

30. i.e. (id est)
Meaning: that is
Origin: Latin 1598
Additional Info: Denotes an alternative explanation or formulation of what went before, not an example of it. See also exempli gratia (e.g.)
Example: “She took her opinions to their logical conclusion, i.e. she killed him.”
Part of Speech: Phrase

31. Enfant terrible Meaning: prodigy, boy/girl wonder Origin: French 1851
Additional Info: There is also an undertone of exasperating and unmanageable in the terrible as well as brilliant.
Example: “He was considered the enfant terrible of his day, hugely talented but troublesome.”
Part of Speech: noun

32. Terra firma Meaning: firm or solid land Origin: Latin 1595-1605
Additional Info: Usually used to make a contradistinction from weeks or months at sea.
Example: “It was with great gratitude that he stood on terra firma once more.”
Part of Speech: noun

33. Vox populi Meaning: popular opinion or sentiment Origin: Latin
Additional Info: Literally “voice of the people.”
Example: “We should go with the vox populi on that one.”
Part of Speech: noun