French Definitions Of Some Popular English Expressions

Many of the things that English speakers use are actually French phrases. This article discusses some of these phrases and their true meaning. You would be well-served to make a study of some of these expressions and begin incorporating them into your vocabulary.Adroit. The literal French meaning is to right, but in English this word has e to mean skillful and adept.Concierge. This word has not strayed far from its French origin in its meaning of a hotel desk manager, although in French it can also refer to the caretaker Rosetta Stone
of a building who lives near the front door. Au contraire. This phrase, which means to the contrary, has the same meaning in both English and French.A la mode. This is a phrase that has diverged considerably in general use from its original meaning. In French, the expression is used to describe something that is fashionable. However, in English, the phrase is used almost exclusively to refer to an item of food served with ice cream on top.Fiance. In French, this means engaged. However, in French, fianc (with one e) refers to a man, while a version ending in two es refers to a woman.Menage a trios. In French, this means household of three. The English use of the word refers to a different kind of threesome.Double entendre. In French, entendre Rosetta Stone Spanish
means to understand, so the literal meaning of the phrase (bining English and French) is double understanding.Carte blanche. This literally means a blank card or letter in French. This meaning has been extended in English to mean having the authority to act on ones own discretion without any oversight.Dj vu. In French, this expression literally means already seen. In English, the original definition has been extended to refer to the illusion or feeling of having already experienced something that is happening for the first time.Risque. It is risky to be too risqu. In French, the word literally means risked. In English, we use the word to mean something that is provocative or sexually suggestive.As you can see from this small sampling, many of the phrases that English speakers incorporate into their speech all the time are actually French phrases which sometimes have similar meanings, but often mean something pletely differently. However, it is less important to Rosetta Stone Spanish (Spain) Levev 1-5
know the true meaning than it is to know how to use (and pronounce) these phrases in your business vocabulary. In business, it is often important to portray a particular type of image, so learning expressions like those above will strengthen your vocabulary.