French phrases

Yesterday, I wanted to post this topic. Work became super busy, and, even though I was able to get a bit of research in, I didn’t get the chance to flesh it out and share it with you, so this morning, I’m posting first thing…

My husband has triggered my new fascination in French phrases we use in English. I’ll list a few here:

Raison d’être - Literally translated “reason to be.” From wikipedia:

“The French concept is more elaborate than a simple statement. Once the reason an object exists is defined, criteria to measure the object’s degree of success can be enumerated…when measurable criteria are known, gaps can be identified that show where the particular object fails to meet the prototypical object’s reason for being. When gaps have been fully identified, strategies can be implemented to close the gaps and bring the object closer to the true fulfillment of its raison d’être.” Full article.

Rather philosophic, isn’t it? (Those French can’t help it.) What I like about the concept, indicated from the excerpt above, is that the phrase doesn’t just mean to realize your purpose but to refine yourself until you arrive at the point of completing your purpose. Isn’t that exactly the journey we are all on? It’s one thing to know and even define your “assignment,” but it is entirely different to complete it.

espirit de corps – Literally translated “spirit of the body.” The denotation refers not to one person’s body but to a group or team. Dictionaries explain this phrase to mean the moral of that group, the

“shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group,” per Wiktionary.

By connotation, it seems to imply that this unity within a body propels the group to succeed. And isn’t that absolutely true? When everyone gets on the same page, progress is imminent.

A quick tip on usage:

These idiomatic phrases are usually seen in italics in their written form. Also, if you’re going to use them in speech, please make sure to pronounce them properly. You can find audible clips of pronunciation at Wiktionary.

Obviously, this isn’t a huge list, so if any of you know of anymore French (or otherwise) phrases to use, please comment!

Well, that’s different.

Can’t you just hear someone say that with a slightly sarcastic tone? It’d be a way of denoting neither a positive nor negative response to someone/something. Except it’d still be negative. Do you know what I mean? Now hear it another way:

Well, that’s different.

Can you? First of all, it’s hard to get my point across in writing. But think about the statement being said as an excuse:

“Johnny, this is the second weekend in a row you’ve come home late. Last week, it was with Billy. This week, it’s with your brother.”

“Well, that’s different!”

I think of this phrase as a huge excuse. Now, I know I used it in the context of a parent and son, but adults use this adage, too. And I’ve come to realize that usually when someone says “Well, [what I did] or [what they did] or [whatever] is different,” it means they really just don’t know what they’re talking about, and they are probably just trying to justify something in their favor.

Yes, some things are different. There is not always black and white. But there is more often than some people would like to admit.

A Word is a Word is a Phrase?

I have them all over the margins of notebooks and pieces of scrap paper – little phrases or words that are different in meaning and usage but come out of your mouth the same exact way. I’ll list a few examples. I really ought to search through all my things and find the ones I’ve come across and scribbled down, because I have always wanted to do something with all of them all together, perhaps in some sort of clever poem. Anyway, here are some coming to my mind at the moment.

I think I will wear my CARDIGAN.
Could I see your CARD AGAIN?

I miss childhood INNOCENCE.
It’s amazing IN A SENSE.

There are countless more, I’m sure. If you know some, comment!