Reader\'s Digest Australia - 06.2019

June• 2019 | 135

IT PAYS TO INCREASE YOUR

Word Power

BRAIN POWER

BY LINDA BESNER

A Smattering of French

Some of the everyday words and expressions we use in English

have been borrowed from French.

1.je ne sais quoi– A: special,
indefinable quality. B: euphemism
for u nderclothing. C : herb mixture
for fl avouring soups.

2.habitué– A: nun’s dress. B: person
frequently visiting a place.
C: eggs done over easy.

3.billet-doux– A: first-warning
ticket. B: opera rehearsal open to the
public. C: love letter.

4.laissez-faire– A: non-
interference approach. B: lost and
found. C: pale complexion.

5.bric-a-brac– A: layer of sediment
on the forest floor. B: collection of
ornaments. C: horse-drawn sleigh.

6.flâneur– A: brushed-cotton fabric.
B: one who idly strolls around and
observes. C: airplane rudder.

7.de rigueur– A: very strict or
harsh. B: stiffness of a corpse.
C: required by fashion or
convention.

8.esprit de l’escalier– A: can-do

attitude. B: sacrifice of a knight in

chess. C: perfect retort formulated

too late.

9.sang-froid– A: self-possession

under stress. B: wild-boar pâté.

C: cold breeze.

10.à la carte– A: ordered separately

from a menu. B: payment by credit

card. C: meal at a set price.

11.renaissance– A: cultural revival.

B: cultural low. C: litter of foxes.

12.contre-jour– A: dusk.

B: o pinions contrary to accepted

beliefs. C: against the light.

13.amour-propre– A: love of

propriety. B: self-worth.

C: s uitable marriage.

14.éminence grise– A: person

with no official title but great

inf luence. B: ominous storm cloud.

C: person with a reputation

for dishonesty.