by Chloe Rhodes
Blitz
lightning war (German, from “Blitzkrieg”)
A “Blitzkrieg” is a lightning-fast attack (from “Blitz” lightning, and “Krieg” war), the tactical opposite to “Stellungskrieg” “Stellung” meaning “position”), which is warfare from prepared positions, such as trenches or fortifications. In a 1938 German military journal it is defined as a “strategic attack” employing tanks, aircraft, and airborne troops, but official use of the term by the German forces during the war was rare. The sustained aerial bombardment of Britain by the Nazis from September 1940 to May 1941 became known as the Blitz. Modern usage is less specific and can refer to anything done with vigor and speed.
For the perfect winter soup just chop the leftovers from your Christmas dinner, blitz them together with some stock in the food processor, and there you have it!
Bon mot
right word (French)
In English a “bon mot” is a quip or witty remark. The phrase crossed over from France around 1730 and became a fashionable way to describe the clever and amusing asides that entertained eighteenth-century high society. Oscar Wilde was later famous for peppering his plays with them. Sadly, many genuinely funny bons mots have been turned into clichés through overuse. The worst examples of these tend to be alcohol-related and can be found adorning the walls and menus of cheap bars and restaurants.
If you spent as much time studying as you dedicate to delivering bons mots to your classmates, Stevens, you might one day be able to graduate.
Bona fide
in good faith (Latin)
The original definition still stands in legal terminology, where an agreement or contract signed in good faith is said to be “bona fide,” but in everyday use the phrase has become interchangeable with the word “genuine” and is usually used to describe a person or thing whose authenticity can be trusted. The plural also refers to the documentation that proves legitimacy, so an employer might ask to see an applicant’s bona fides before offering him a job.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, prepare to be amazed—may I proudly present Bernice, our bona fide bearded lady.
Bonhomie
simple good-heartedness (French)
“Bonhomie” is the quality of good-natured friendliness—the term might be applied to someone who enjoys amiable conversation and has an affable disposition. The phrase first appeared in English literature in the mid-1800s and is still used in reference to warm, outgoing people, often men. Its absence in a person is also often noted as a subtle way of conveying when someone is somewhat cold and unfriendly.
Ted and Mary were dreading their dinner with the Joneses; Mr. Jones wasn’t exactly known for his bonhomie, and Mrs. Jones usually loitered in the kitchen quietly quaffing the cooking wine.
Bordello
brothel (Italian)
Though English speakers have borrowed this word from Italy, its true origins are Germanic—“borde” meant hut, which became the Old French word “bordel.” In modern use “bordello” is an alternative word for brothel. The word is thought to date back to the late-sixteenth century. Despite its link to the oldest profession, it wasn’t used in the modern sense until around 1850. In recent years its meaning has mellowed still further, and it is now sometimes used to describe a type of opulent interior design. There are even a few Italian restaurants called Il Bordello.
I thought we’d go for a bordello feel in this room, Deirdre—lots of velvet drapes and candelabra.
Bourgeois
middle or merchant class (French)
This word comes from the old French “burgeis,” which meant a “townsperson.” It has evolved as a label for the powerful strata of society whose status comes from self-made wealth rather than aristocratic lineage. Originally there was nothing negative about the label. Even Karl Marx, who criticized the bourgeoisie for hypocrisy in The Communist Manifesto, used the term descriptively rather than pejoratively. Since then, though, it has taken on negative connotations, and in English we tend to use it to mean boringly middle-of-the-road, materialistic, or uncultured.
We’ll have to turn the invitation down, Nova. I wouldn’t sit through another of those bourgeois dinner parties if my Anarchist Club membership depended on it.
Brio
vigor, vivacity (Italian/Spanish)
This is an Italian and Spanish word with Celtic origins; “brigos,” from which it is derived, meant “power,” “strength,” or “force.” It is thought to have entered the English language around the eighteenth century through the Italian musical instruction con brio, which means perform “with vigor.” We now use it to describe the kind of verve and liveliness that we imagine we would feel at a Spanish fiesta after a jug or two of sangria.
Did I tell you that Madeleine has started ballet lessons? Oh yes, she’s only three, but her performance of the “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” was full of brio.
Bungalow
a small house or cottage with a single story (Hindi)
The Indian words “bangala” (Hindi), “bungalow” (Bengali), “bangalo” (Gujarati) all refer to a thatched or tiled one-story house surrounded by a wide veranda, sometimes with an additional attic story. The English suburban fondness for such houses, especially near the coast, changed the landscape in the twentieth century. However, the 1968 Beatles song “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” was inspired by the real thing when John Lennon mocked a rich American at the Maharishi’s meditation camp who proudly shot a tiger. (In fairness, the young man’s action may have been necessary, and he never hunted again.)
With the elevator broken and a ten-story climb ahead, Arthur and Enid first conceived their dream—a bungalow by the sea.
C
Camaraderie
comradeship (French)
This word conveys a spirit of fellowship and trust between friends or colleagues. It has been used in English since the 1800s, when it described the strong bonds that developed between those who suffered alongside one another in wartime. We still use the word to describe the good relationship fostered in the military between troops and within any team or group of like-minded people united by a common cause.
Ever since the photocopying incident at the office Christmas party, the accounting department team had been bound by a real sense of camaraderie.
Carpe diem
seize the day (Latin)
The Roman poet Horace coined this phrase in his poem “Tu ne quaesieris” from Book 1 of The Odes, published in 23 BC. The poem was directed at a woman worrying about her future; its final line reads: “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero,” which translates as, “Seize the day, trusting tomorrow as little as possible.” The popularity of the phrase was renewed by the 1989 film Dead Poets Society, in which a teacher, played by Robin Williams, uses it to encourage his pupils to make their lives extraordinary. (See “Ars longa, vita brevis” page 24)
At the airplane’s hatch Brian was frozen with fear, what if the parachute failed, what if he landed in the middle of the ocean? “ Carpe diem,” he managed to whisper, and then he jumped.
Carte blanche
white or blank card (French)
This is a military term meaning “surrender,” dating from the early 1700s, when a blank piece of paper was given to the victorious army on which they could write their terms. A “carte blanche” gave complete power to whomever it was given, and we still make use of this sense of the phrase today. If someone is given carte blanche, it means she has a free hand to do whatever she chooses.
Sarah stared at the orange wallpaper in horror—she knew she should never have given Francisco carte blanche with the choice of decor.
Cause célèbre
famous case (French)
This phrase comes from the Nouvelles Causes Célèbres, a collection of famous French court verdicts published in 1763. The term became common in English after the false conviction of Alfred Dreyfuss, a Jewish officer of the French army, for espionage in 1894. Still applied to court cases that incite pu
blic protest, the phrase can also be used to refer to any publicly controversial issue. Confusingly, many modern causes célèbres have supporters who are themselves famous, which has led the term to be mistakenly used for causes with celebrity backing.
From his cell Ernie Roberts thought he could hear the clamoring of an angry mob. For a heady moment he let himself believe it was for him, but he knew deep down that a financial fraud case would never become a cause célèbre.
Caveat emptor
let the buyer beware (Latin)
This phrase has stayed in the English language as a legal term; in property law it is used as a warning to potential buyers that the responsibility for checking the condition of a building lies with them. It has become an important phrase in the wider consumer market, too, particularly in the purchase of secondhand goods. The word “caveat” is also often used alone (without italics) as a noun to describe a warning, condition, or restriction.
Having got her special-offer impulse purchase home, and finding not only that did it not fit but that beige and shocking pink stripes weren’t really “her,” Susan was unable to prevent the phrase “caveat emptor” from entering her mind.
Cenotaph
empty tomb (French)
This word entered the French language from the Latin “cenotaphium ,” which in turn took it from the Greek words“kenos,” meaning “empty,” and “taphos,” meaning “tomb.” A “cenotaph” is a monument to the dead whose bodies are either lost or buried elsewhere. The large numbers of unmarked graves and enormous numbers of soldiers and sailors with no known grave after the First World War led to the construction of cenotaphs across the world to honor the dead. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in the United States and France, and the UK’s national war memorial, which is simply called the Cenotaph, are the best-known examples.
Crowds gather at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day to remember the US fallen heroes of both world wars and other conflicts of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
C’est la vie
that’s life (French)
This phrase originated in France, where it was said with a sigh after something difficult or disappointing had happened to mean “that’s just the way life goes.” It is still used in France in this context, though these days it is considered old-fashioned. In English the phrase has stuck, but it does have to compete with such modern variations as “that’s the way the cookie crumbles” and the somewhat more prosaic “shit happens.”
Come on, Tony, you’ve got to put that French girl out of your mind and move on.
I know, Dave, but everywhere I turn there’s something French that reminds me of her.
C’est la vie, I’m afraid.
Chagrin
distress (French)
The origins of this word, which is used to convey a sense of aggravation, sheepishness, or displeasure, are widely disputed. Some etymologists believe that it comes from a rough leather of the same name (English “shagreen”), while others say it comes from a French translation of the German word for hangover—Katzenjammer. Most likely, though, it comes from the Germanic word “grami,” meaning “sorrow” or “trouble,” as the earliest English usage was for “anxiety” and “sadness.” Nowadays the word is used in English to signify slight disappointment, tinged with irritation.
Malcolm had planned to pass the store-bought salmon terrine off as his own creation, but much to his chagrin, Stephanie sauntered into the kitchen just as he was taking it out of the package.
Cherchez la femme
look for the woman (French)
This phrase was taken from the 1854 book Les Mohicans de Paris by French author Alexandre Dumas père (not to be confused with his son, also named Alexandre Dumas). He was best known for his historical adventure fiction, and this phrase conveys the view that a woman was almost always behind the misadventures of men. It retains this meaning in modern use, though sometimes with sardonic overtones, and it can also be used more generally to encourage someone to look for the underlying cause of a problem.
Charles let out a gasp as he opened his credit card bill. “Cherchez la femme,” he muttered under his breath as he dialed the number of his accountant.
Chic
elegant (French)
In English “chic” is synonymous with “fashionable” and “stylish.” It is thought to originate from a German word “Schick,” which means “fitness” and “elegance,” though the French monopoly on all things related to fashion ensured that English speakers took the francophone version. It is used today to denote an outfit, object, or place that exudes sophistication and style.
I felt very out of place in my socks and comfortable sandals, I can tell you; we just weren’t expecting it to be so chic.
Chop-chop
hurry (Chinese, from “k’wâi-k’wâi”)
The phrase originated in the South China Sea, as a Pidgin English version of the Chinese term “k’wâi-k’wâi.” The adoption of the “chop-chop” pronunciation was in harmony with the long-standing use of “chop” and “chop-up” by British seamen, with the meaning “quick” or “hurried.” The seafaring usage of “chop up” referred specifically to a sudden change in the wind and the waves (hence “choppy”). The British say “chop-chop” when they want someone, usually a child but originally a foreign servant, to hurry up. They may also clap their hands to underscore the urgency.
Miss Brindle flared her nostrils. “Chop-chop, girls!” she said briskly as her charges reluctantly tidied the nursery.
Chop suey
bits and pieces (Chinese, from “tsap sui”)
Chop suey is widely believed to have been invented in America by Chinese immigrants but seems to originate in Taishan, a district of Guangdong Province. A popular story has the dish invented during Premier Li Hongzhang’s visit to the United States in 1896.
His chef tried to create a dish suitable for both Chinese and American palates. When asked what food the premier was eating, the cook found it difficult to explain and replied “mixed pieces.”
Unfamiliar with Chinese food, Jeff said, “I’ll have whatever, bits and pieces.”
“Chop suey, excellent choice!” his host replied.
Chutney
to taste (Hindi)
The name for this sweet and spicy condiment comes from the East Indian word “chatni.” Traditionally reserved for special occasions because they required an intensive preparation process, chutneys began to be imported by Western countries in the late 1600s, and by the nineteenth century more subtly spiced versions were being produced, especially for export. We now use the word for a huge variety of preserved condiments and pickles.
The most popular stall at the town fair was always Mrs. Hubbard’s. People flocked from far and wide for a taste of her green tomato chutney.
Chutzpah
audacity (Yiddish)
This comes from the Hebrew word “hutspah” (which is how “chutzpah” is pronounced), meaning “insolence.” It originally referred to someone who had brazenly broken the rules of respectable behavior and was used only in a disapproving sense. In Yiddish and subsequently English, however, it can convey a quality worthy of a sort of reluctant admiration—a daring effrontery that we might describe as “gutsy.” It might also be used today to describe the performance of a precocious musician or dancer who has delivered a challenging interpretation of a particularly difficult piece.
The president smiled as the pro-vegan protester was escorted away. Leading a live cow into Congress was a crazy idea, but he couldn’t help but admire the man’s chutzpah.
Cogito, ergo sum
I think, therefore I am (Latin)
This famous philosophical quotation is from René Descartes’s 1673 Discourse on Method, in which he asserted the fact that the power of thought was proof of the existence of the self. He originally wrote it in French rather than Latin (“Je pense, donc je suis”) so that it was accessible to a broader range of readers, but he switched to Latin in his later
work Principles of Philosophy. Modern philosophers refer to the phrase as “the cogito.”
I thought I deserved a far better grade than a D for that, sir.