Daily French
Flip open any decent English dictionary, you’ll find a collection of French which offers some phrases or words English can’t define so aptly. So it’s essential to learn them up and use them in your MUET, IELTS, or ESL the next time. Shock the examiner!
1. apres-ski (ah-preh-shi) - (literally) activties done after skiing. (reality) suitable (for these).
Example: I bet taking a nap in class during Pendidikan Moral lesson (which happends to be placed after PJ) is really apres-ski.
2. au revoir (aou-revour) - so long, goodbye, go to hell.
Example: After 23 years (or more?) ruling Malaysia, we finally bid au revoir to Tun Dr. Mahathir on October 2003.
3. de rigueur (de-rigour) - the norm, required by fashion or etiquette.
Example: In Asia, it is de rigueur for the performers or artists to bow after their show during the applause. It’s uncommon to keep mumbling ‘thank you’ and put on a fake smile while standing like a wooden statue.
4. eau de cologne / eau de toilette (aou-de-colunge / au-de-toilatt) - perfume.
Example: Before boarding an aircraft, the cabin crew will usually spray the lavatories with huge amounts of eau de toilette. They are highly flammable. So it’s advisable not to smoke in the lav. as you might get yourself barbequed alive if the alcohol is ignited.
5. fait accompli (fart-akompli) - thing(s) done and past arguing about.
Example: Sami Veloo: The issue about the MRR2 highway is fait accompli. There’s nothing more to talk about it. Go report some other issues and leave me alone. I have many other cracking highways to worry about (oops!).
6. faux pas (fook-pah) - tactless mistake(s).
Example: (in referal to my blog ‘Orientation’ picture 4) Jun Yi did a faux pas in that picture. The hand signal ‘2′ with the back of the hand showing to the audience is actually considered rude as it is equivalent to ‘the middle finger’ in UK. Rest assured, he did not intend to do that and hope all of you will forgive him.
7. laissez-faire (leze-freh) - policy of not interfering.
Example: The government has stated that they maintain laissez-faire on the issue of restructuring of MAS. This is done so that if any melon-tofu (Cantonese translation please) happened to MAS, they won’t be condamned.
8. hors d’ oeuvre (oos-d-u-reh) - appetizer served at start of meal.
Example: "For hors d’oeuvre we have a selection of cold cuts, foie gras* or caviar, sir."
"Aiyo, ini apa? Ada nasi tak? Gua hah sudah sangat lapar lu cakap apa gua tak paham lah!"
9. joie de vivre (juah-de-viree) - exuberance, high spirits.
Example: We were in extreme joie de vivre on the 13th of March because we managed to get 1A for Bahasa Cina. However, we failed our BM, but after all, who cares for BM?
10. Mademoiselle (me-mo-zelle) - Ms.
Example: "Bonjour Mademoiselle, bienvenue a Malaysia!" (Good morning, Miss, welcome to Malaysia!)
11. Entree (Ahn-three) - main course.
Example: "For the entree we have a choice of salmon, lobster, abalone or Peking duck, all directly from Le Cordon Bleu**,"
"Ada tau-iu tak? Ini apa ikan hah, tak masak punya?"
* foie gras - stuffed goose / duck liver, considered a high-class French delicacy served as appetizers.
** Le Cordon Bleu - galactic class chefs in France, French elite chefs awarded the ‘blue ribbon’.
