The phrase coup d’état is a loan phrase from the French. We will examine the definition of coup d’état, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. A coup d’état is a sudden overthrow of a government. Usually, a coup d’état is a violent, illegal seizure of …
A kerfuffle is something that causes disruption or change in atmosphere, especially in public. Notice only one l, the word is not kerfluffle. It originated outside the United States, but is understood within. The plural is kerfuffles. The word comes from the Scot term carfuffle. A brouhaha, pronounced (brew ha ha), is the emotion or reaction of …
The English language is largely derived from foreign etymological influences, but occasionally, a word or two stay true to their native language spelling and pronunciation. The words beau and belle are perfect examples of this, offering words that can be used as a formal name or title. Let’s take a …
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Au fait, pronounced (oh fey), is borrowed from French. It literally means to the point or to the fact. In English we used it to say that someone has the whole picture, complete knowledge of something, or is socially correct. Grammatically it works as an adjective. The phrase is more …
Readers flock to Grammarist en masse for our awesome tips and articles about grammar. I just used the phrase “en masse” the way it was intended. But do you know where it came from and why we use it in the English language today? I’ll go over everything you need …
Repertoire is a mass noun for the variety of skills a person or company is capable of accomplishing. Usually it is used in reference to musicians or theater companies and what parts or pieces they are prepared to perform. However, this term is common enough it can be used outside of …
Touché means that someone has said something especially witty or knowledgeable in a debate or discussion. Sometimes it is used to compliment a particularly funny comeback to a joke or insult. Touché is an interjection borrowed from the sport of fencing. It is French from the word meaning to touch. In …
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Liquor is a synonym for alcohol, usually a fermented drink that has been distilled. Distillation is basically the process of taking a fermented liquid and purifying it which removes water and therefore makes the concentration of alcohol higher. In North America, hard liquor is a common synonym. As a verb, to liquor something is to …
Faux-naïf (faux-naif) is a French loanword which literally means falsely naive. In English its meaning is much the same, a person or object pretending to be innocent or unknowing in order to fool someone or get something underhandedly. Faux-naif can be an adjective or a noun. It can be spelled with or without …
Are you a trouper or trooper? Well, that depends on a few other factors, like whether or not you’re in the military or an actor. But wait, aren’t these two words just alternative spellings of the same term? You’d think that, yes, but they actually mean two different things. Let’s …