Foreign Phrases?

ixcrisxi · 11-23-2003, 11:16 PM

Ever wonder what that string of words was in the newspaper you read this morning or what us silly teenagers are talking about? Of course you do! I do, mysefl!

Here's the place to find foreign phrases to add to your vocabulary.

Just post a phrase (latin, u.s. lingo, french, etc.) and its meaning for us. C'est bon, non?

de trop: not wanted (French)
mot juste: appropriate word or expression (French) pl. mots justes

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nausicaa · 11-24-2003, 12:13 AM

Here's an easy one:

"Veni, vidi, vici." - I came, I saw, I conquered. (Latin)

*Caveat Emptor: Phrase only to be used by those arrogant enough to pull it off. Advice - think Julius Caesar after he defeated Pharnaces.

Zaius · 11-24-2003, 01:00 AM

"de trop" literally "too much of" in French, so it will usually be used to mean "not wanted" but not always (it can just mean "whether it be wanted or not, I think there is too much of that")

MasterOfPuppets · 11-24-2003, 01:35 AM

sticking with the latin theme

carpe diem - 'seize the day'

SnowflakeGirl · 11-24-2003, 02:07 AM

It really annoys me when people confuse:
coup de grâce--a final, winning blow
with:
coup d'état--the overthrowing of an established government

And don't anyone confuse these terms for coup de maître, which means "masterstroke".

ETA: Those phrases are French in origin, BTW. (Why is there no beret-wearing, Gauloise-smoking, Sarte-reading smiley?)

Zaius · 11-24-2003, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowflakeGirl

It really annoys me when people confuse:
coup de grâce--a final, winning blow
with:
coup d'état--the overthrowing of an established government

And don't anyone confuse these terms for coup de maître, which means "masterstroke".

ETA: Those phrases are French in origin, BTW. (Why is there no beret-wearing, Gauloise-smoking, Sarte-reading smiley?)

my favorite is when people (even on the cable news) say "deja vu all over again"

SnowflakeGirl · 11-24-2003, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaius

my favorite is when people (even on the cable news) say "deja vu all over again"

I know!
Mon cri de coeur: Why? Why do people insist on abusing language like that?

ixcrisxi · 11-24-2003, 07:31 PM

deus ex machina: a person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficulty (Latin)

SnowflakeGirl, are you fluent in French?

nausicaa · 11-24-2003, 08:17 PM

A little more obscure this time:

"In potentia"- What is not, but may be

"In esse" - What already is; existing

and, of course, "Cogito ergo sum" - I think, therefore, I am.

nausicaa · 11-24-2003, 08:27 PM

Oh, we should get started on commonly-used Italian expressions, too. I'll start with an easy one:

"La dolce vita" - the sweet life (not to be confused with Aristotle's "the good life". I doubt eudaimonia is at all what Fellini intended to convey.

)

11-23-2003, 11:16 PM	#1
ixcrisxi The Truth Is Out There Join Date: May 2003 Location: Moorhead, Minnesota Age: 22 Posts: 692	Foreign Phrases? Ever wonder what that string of words was in the newspaper you read this morning or what us silly teenagers are talking about? Of course you do! I do, mysefl! Here's the place to find foreign phrases to add to your vocabulary. Just post a phrase (latin, u.s. lingo, french, etc.) and its meaning for us. C'est bon, non? de trop: not wanted (French) mot juste: appropriate word or expression (French) pl. mots justes __________________ MULDER: It's still there, Scully. 200,000 years down in the ice. SCULLY: Leave it there.

11-24-2003, 01:00 AM	#3
Zaius Allez les Bleus! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,362	"de trop" literally "too much of" in French, so it will usually be used to mean "not wanted" but not always (it can just mean "whether it be wanted or not, I think there is too much of that") __________________ "The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of an expanding bureaucracy." -- Unknown

11-24-2003, 02:07 AM	#5
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	It really annoys me when people confuse: coup de grâce--a final, winning blow with: coup d'état--the overthrowing of an established government And don't anyone confuse these terms for coup de maître, which means "masterstroke". ETA: Those phrases are French in origin, BTW. (Why is there no beret-wearing, Gauloise-smoking, Sarte-reading smiley?) __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

11-24-2003, 07:31 PM	#8
ixcrisxi The Truth Is Out There Join Date: May 2003 Location: Moorhead, Minnesota Age: 22 Posts: 692	deus ex machina: a person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficulty (Latin) SnowflakeGirl, are you fluent in French? __________________ MULDER: It's still there, Scully. 200,000 years down in the ice. SCULLY: Leave it there.

11-24-2003, 12:13 AM	#2
nausicaa FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oz Age: 26 Posts: 1,238	Here's an easy one: "Veni, vidi, vici." - I came, I saw, I conquered. (Latin) *Caveat Emptor: Phrase only to be used by those arrogant enough to pull it off. Advice - think Julius Caesar after he defeated Pharnaces.

11-24-2003, 01:35 AM	#4
MasterOfPuppets caught by the window Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In a van down by the river!!!... watching the Canucks on my 3" TV Age: 25 Posts: 433	sticking with the latin theme carpe diem - 'seize the day'

11-24-2003, 08:17 PM	#9
nausicaa FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oz Age: 26 Posts: 1,238	A little more obscure this time: "In potentia"- What is not, but may be "In esse" - What already is; existing and, of course, "Cogito ergo sum" - I think, therefore, I am.

11-24-2003, 08:27 PM	#10
nausicaa FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oz Age: 26 Posts: 1,238	Oh, we should get started on commonly-used Italian expressions, too. I'll start with an easy one: "La dolce vita" - the sweet life (not to be confused with Aristotle's "the good life". I doubt eudaimonia is at all what Fellini intended to convey. )