papier peint
pop´-ee-yay PAN´ Papier peint is simply ‘wallpaper’ in French, but when used in English, the term usually refers to wallpaper that’s hand painted, block printed, antique, or otherwise rare and […]
Foreign Origins
verre églomisé
VEHR´ ay´-gloh-mee-ZAY´ Verre églomisé is glass that’s been decorated on the reverse side with paint and gold (or silver) leaf. The verre églomisé process results in a gleaming, luxurious finish […]
haricots verts
AHR´-ee-coh VEHR´ Haricots verts is French for ‘green beans’ in general, although the term is usually only applied to green beans that conform to French tastes: young, narrow, and with […]
petits pois
puh-TEE´ PWAH´ (French, ‘small peas’) While the term petits pois means ‘small peas,’ in French, the French people use the term to describe ‘peas’ in general, since they refuse to […]
ad infinitum
ad´ in-fun-EYE´-dum (Latin, ‘to infinity’) Ad infinitum means forever, or what seems like forever. The thirty-day course seemed to go on ad infinitum.
quid pro quo
kwid´ proh KWOH´ (Latin, ‘something for something’) A quid pro quo is an agreement in which one thing is exchanged for another. In other words, I’ll give you what you […]
intermezzo
in-ter-METS´-oh (‘interlude’ in Italian) Historically, an intermezzo is any short entertainment, dance, or musical piece performed between the acts of a play or an opera. Today the term is generally […]
parterre
par-TEHR´ A parterre is a flat garden terrace composed of various elements (which may include paths, fountains, shrubs, and flower beds) that form a symmetrical design. A parterre is best […]
faux pas
foe PAW´ (French, ‘false step’) A faux pas is an embarrassing social mistake or a breach of manners or good conduct. Using the wrong fork at a formal dinner is […]
badinage
bad-uh-NAHZH´ Badinage is good-natured verbal sparring, or teasing that fails to cross the line into actual insult (though it may come close). Synonyms include ribbing, joshing, banter, and raillery. Other […]