A Closer Look: Lesson 4 · Street Talk 2 Vocabulary List

very enthusiastic and dedicated

"The team is gung ho about the project."

"The gung ho new employee volunteered for every project and soon became the manager's favorite team member."

a Chinese martial art encompassing a wide range of fighting styles and techniques

"Kung fu has styles."

"Kung fu was a Chinese martial art with hundreds of different styles including animal based techniques."

used as a poetic way to bid someone farewell

"Adieu! I must leave you now."

"Adieu! I must leave you now because it is getting late, and I need to go home."

the overall mood, feeling, or character of a place, shaped by its surroundings and influences

"The candlelit room has a romantic ambiance."

"The candlelit restaurant had a romantic ambiance with soft music and dim lighting."

a drink, particularly alcoholic, consumed before a meal to stimulate one's appetite

"Light aperitif drunk."

"We drank a light aperitif before dinner to stimulate our appetite yesterday evening."

a specialist assigned to the staff of a diplomatic mission

"The military attache briefs the ambassador."

"The cultural attache organized an exhibition of French art at the embassy."

showing a casual lack of concern, as if nothing is particularly important or worth worrying about

"He is blase about his success."

"The blase teenager was not impressed by the famous singer because he had seen many celebrities before."

used to wish someone a good appetite or enjoyable meal before they start eating

"Bon appétit! Enjoy your delicious meal."

"Bon app�tit! Enjoy your delicious meal, and eat slowly so you do not get indigestion."

used to wish someone a safe and enjoyable journey before they embark on a trip

"Bon voyage! Have fun on your cruise."

"Bon voyage! Have fun on your cruise. I hope you see many beautiful places and make memories."

a small store in which fashionable clothes or accessories are sold

"She opened a small boutique."

"We visited a charming boutique downtown that sold handmade jewelry and unique accessories."

small, decorative items or trinkets, often of little value individually but collectively creating a visually appealing display

"The shelf is filled with bric-a-brac from her travels."

"The antique shop was filled with bric a brac from mismatched china to old toys."

loud confused noise from many sources

"The mistake causes a brouhaha in the office."

"The brouhaha over the politician's remarks dominated news coverage for an entire week."

a feeling of mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together

"The camaraderie among the team members is strong."

"The camaraderie among the firefighters was strong because they trusted each other with their lives."

complete freedom or unrestricted authority given to someone to act as they wish in a particular situation

"The manager gives her carte blanche to redesign the office."

"The designer was given carte blanche to redecorate the entire hotel lobby."

a large country house or mansion, typically of French origin, often associated with luxury, grandeur, and historical significance

"We visited a chateau."

"The French chateau has been converted into a luxury hotel with sprawling gardens."

the art of making pictures by sticking photographs, pieces of cloth or colored paper onto a surface

"The children made a collage from magazines."

"The children made a colorful collage using pictures cut from old magazines and newspapers."

a hotel employee who assists guests by arranging services such as reservations, tours, tickets, or recommendations

"The concierge arranged transportation immediately."

"The hotel concierge recommended popular restaurants and tourist attractions to international guests."

an individual who is an expert of art, food, music, etc. and can judge its quality

"The wine connoisseur could identify any vintage."

"The wine connoisseur could identify the grape variety and region just by smelling and tasting a small sip."

a sudden, violent seizure of governmental power by a small group

"They staged a coup d'etat."

"The military carried out a violent coup d'etat."

a sweet alcoholic drink with mint flavor

"Creme de menthe is minty."

"She ordered a creme de menthe after dessert, enjoying its refreshing mint flavor."

a sweet alcoholic drink with chocolate flavor

"Add creme de cacao."

"Creme de cacao is a sweet chocolate flavored liqueur."

a street with one closed end

"The cul-de-sac ends in a circle with houses around it."

"The cul de sac was quiet because no through traffic disturbed the peaceful neighborhood."

an absolute failure which leads to shame or disgrace

"The events become a complete debacle."

"The product launch was a debacle when the website crashed and orders could not be processed."

the act of beginning something new

"The actress makes her film debut at age 20."

"The actor made his film debut at age twenty two in a small independent movie."

a woman who is making a public appearance for the first time, especially in movies or sports

"The debutante arrived at the ball."

"The young debutante was presented to society at the elegant ball last weekend with her family."

having lost social or cultural status, often implying a decline in class or prestige

"His manners are declasse."

"The declasse artist rejected the values of high society and chose to live among the working class."

the feeling that a current situation has happened before, even though it is new

"The strange feeling of deja vu washes over him."

"He felt a strange sense of deja vu as if he had dreamed this exact moment before."

a phrase or word that intentionally conveys two distinct meanings, usually with one sexual connotation

"The comment had a double entendre."

"The comedian's witty remark was a clever double entendre that amused the audience."

a level or rank in an organization, profession, or society, indicating a person's status or authority within that hierarchy

"Upper echelon invited."

"Only the upper echelon of society was invited to the exclusive event last month."

an oval cake made with a light pastry, filled with cream or custard and topped with chocolate icing

"Eclair has cream filling."

"The eclair was an oblong choux pastry filled with vanilla custard and topped with chocolate fondant."

an individual who has left their native country to settle in another due to political reasons, war, or other upheavals

"The Russian emigre settled in Paris after the revolution of 1917."

"An emigre is a person who has left their native country for political reasons"

a feeling of being bored, tired, or dissatisfied because nothing interesting or exciting is happening

"The ennui felt unbearable today."

"Years of repetitive routines gradually filled him with emotional ennui and dissatisfaction."

on a route to some place

"We stopped for coffee en route."

"We stopped for coffee en route to the airport because we had plenty of time before our flight."

*** This French expression refers to something that has been done and cannot be changed.

"The decision is a fait accompli"

"The board presented the merger as a fait accompli without consulting the shareholders."

an extremely embarrassing and inappropriate comment or behavior in a particular social situation

"Wearing jeans to the wedding is a major faux pas."

"Making a faux pas at a formal dinner could embarrass you and offend your host."

the closing section of a musical composition

"The song's finale was grand."

"The orchestra played a powerful and triumphant finale that brought the audience to their feet."

someone who takes great pleasure in food and dining, often with a discerning palate and a penchant for indulgence

"The gourmand spends hours preparing elaborate meals."

"The gourmand traveled to France specifically to taste regional cheeses and wines."

someone who enjoys and knows about food and wine very much

"He is a gourmet."

"She is a true gourmet, always seeking out the finest culinary experiences."

the products of making highly fashionable and expensive clothing

"The fashion show featured haute couture designs from Paris."

"Only a few fashion houses are allowed to call their creations haute couture which means they are custom made for wealthy clients in Paris."

fancy and carefully prepared food with beautiful presentation and top-notch ingredients

"Haute cuisine is elaborate"

"Haute cuisine was high end elaborate French cooking with rich sauces and precise techniques."

a small dish served before the main course as an appetizer

"Delicious hors d'oeuvre served."

"The delicious hors d'oeuvre was served before the main course at the elegant dinner party yesterday."

an intangible quality that makes someone or something attractive, appealing, or intriguing, but which is difficult to describe or define

"She has a certain je ne sais quoi."

"The French actress had a certain je ne sais quoi that made her unforgettable on screen."

the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs

"The government adopts a laissez faire economic policy."

"The laissez faire economic policy allowed businesses to operate with minimal government regulation."

someone who is in charge of the waiters and waitresses of a restaurant

"The maitre d'hotel seated us at a nice table."

"The maitre d'hotel greeted us at the door and escorted us to our table by the window."

a feeling of being physically ill and irritated without knowing the reason

"He felt a general malaise and could not get out of bed."

"Malaise is a vague feeling of physical discomfort and unease"

a motley assortment of things

"The dish is a melange of different spices."

"The stew was a melange of vegetables beans and spices from various culinary traditions."

a fight that is noisy, confusing, and involves many people

"The player was injured in the on-field melee."

"The peaceful protest turned into a chaotic melee when police and demonstrators began shoving each other aggressively."

household for three; an arrangement where a married couple and a lover of one of them live together while sharing sexual relations

"The film explores a menage a trois relationship."

"The couple lived in a menage a trois with their mutual friend for several years."

the social or cultural setting or environment

"The artist feels out of place in the corporate milieu."

"The artist thrived in the creative milieu of nineteen twenties Paris surrounded by other painters."

used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English `Mr'

"Bonjour, monsieur," the waiter greets the man."

"The waiter addressed the man as monsieur and pulled out his chair for him."

an author's pseudonym

"The author writes under a nom de plume."

"The author used a nom de plume because she thought readers would not buy a book written by a woman."

a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

"The nouveau-riche family builds a huge mansion."

"The nouveau riche family built a massive mansion but had terrible taste in decor."

a French style of cooking known for its light, delicate dishes, fresh ingredients, and artistic presentation

"The restaurant serves nouvelle cuisine in tiny portions."

"Nouvelle cuisine emphasized small portions artistic presentation and lighter sauces than traditional French cooking."

outdated, or no longer in style

"That fashion is passe."

"The passe fashion of bell bottom pants came back into style after being uncool for decades."

the most important or impressive part of a series, event, or work

"The cake is the piece de resistance."

"The chef's signature dish, a perfectly roasted duck, was the undeniable piece de resistance of the entire banquet."

a small secondary residence, typically located in a city or urban area, that is used as a temporary or occasional dwelling

"She has a pied-a-terre."

"The wealthy couple kept a small pied a terre in the city for theater visits."

causing strong emotions, especially sadness or empathy

"The movie is poignant."

"The poignant film about a soldier returning home made the entire audience cry and people left the theater in silence."

a French phrase meaning "Please respond," used on invitations to request a reply about whether the person will attend an event or not

"Please RSVP by Friday to confirm your attendance."

"Please RSVP to the wedding invitation by the first of March to confirm your attendance."

suggestive of sexual impropriety

"The joke was risque."

"The risque joke made some people laugh but others in the audience found it offensive and inappropriate."

social skill

"The diplomat handles the situation with savoir-faire."

"The diplomat handled the delicate negotiation with remarkable savoir faire and cultural sensitivity."

used humorously to show that someone has made a good point in an argument or discussion

"Touche! You made a point."

"When she pointed out the flaw in his logic, he smiled and said 'touche' because he knew she was right."

a brilliant or masterful performance that attracts a lot of attention or displays great skill

"The actor's performance is a tour de force."

"The pianist's performance of the difficult concerto was a tour de force that earned a standing ovation."

an art technique that deceives the eye by creating realistic optical illusions

"It is trompe l'oeil."

"The ceiling painting was a brilliant trompe l'oeil that made the flat surface look like a real sky with clouds floating above the room."

used to express the sudden appearance, revelation, or accomplishment of something

"Voila! The cake is ready!"

"I spent hours organizing the living room, and voila, everything looks absolutely perfect now."

an acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety; usually reserved for philosophical anxiety about the world or about personal freedom

"The book shows teenage angst."

"The novel captured the profound existential angst of a young person grappling with their place in the world."

*** used when somebody has sneezed to wish them good health

"Gesundheit! You sneezed."

"Gesundheit! I hope you feel better soon after that big sneeze you just had."

destroyed or killed

"My car is kaput."

"The old refrigerator is kaput and we need to buy a new one because it does not cool anymore."

a class or school that prepares four-year-old to six-year-old children for elementary school

"The kindergarten is colorful."

"My little sister started kindergarten this year and already loves her teacher and classmates."

forbidden or prohibited, especially by authority or law

"Smoking is verboten here."

"The verboten books were hidden in a secret room because the government had banned their publication."

a young person who achieves remarkable success

"The tech wunderkind starts his first company at 16."

"The young wunderkind started programming computers at age ten and sold his first app at fourteen."

a point of weakness or vulnerability

"Pride is his Achilles' heel."

"Despite his many strengths, his inability to delegate tasks proved to be his Achilles' heel in management."

a compelling charm or attractiveness that inspires devotion and enthusiasm in others

"The leader has natural charisma."

"The politician's charisma attracted huge crowds but his policies lacked substance upon closer examination."

extremely large in size or scale

"The statue is colossal."

"The colossal statue of the pharaoh weighed over one thousand tons and took twenty years to carve."

the universe, particularly when it is thought of as a systematic whole

"The cosmos is very mysterious."

"Looking at the stars at night reminds us how small we are compared to the vast and beautiful cosmos around us."

relating to or causing sexual arousal or excitement

"The painting is erotic."

"The painting is erotic and depicts two lovers embracing in a sensual and intimate pose."

used to express sudden realization, discovery, or enlightenment

"Eureka! I found the solution!"

"Eureka! I found the solution to this difficult problem after hours of thinking."

a running race of 26 miles or 42 kilometers

"Run first marathon."

"She trained for six months to run her first marathon successfully last year with great effort."

a reliable and experienced person who helps those with less experience

"My mentor is wise."

"A peer mentor is a person at a similar level who provides support and guidance"

a psychological trait or personality disorder where someone is excessively self-centered and believes they are superior to others

"Excessive narcissism damages personal relationships seriously"

"Her narcissism made her believe she was more important and talented than everyone else."

a formidable opponent or persistent force that causes misery, defeat, or downfall

"He is her nemesis."

"The superhero finally faced his nemesis in an epic battle that would decide the fate of the city."

a long wandering and eventful journey

"The refugee's odyssey lasted three years."

"Their cross country road trip turned into an odyssey filled with unexpected adventures and delays."

bend the knees and bow in a servile manner

"He had to kowtow."

"The defeated nobleman was forced to kowtow before the victorious king, showing his complete submission."

by selecting and ordering individual items from a menu rather than choosing a set meal

"We ordered a la carte from the menu."

"We ordered a la carte from the menu because we did not want the fixed price meal."

at an appropriate or fitting moment

"Apropos the topic, he spoke."

"Apropos nothing he mentioned the weather and then changed the subject to politics."

relating to the middle class, especially in terms of conventional values, materialism, or social respectability

"Her tastes are bourgeois."

"The bourgeois family lived in a large house and sent their children to expensive private schools."

a striking, successful, or clever achievement, often unexpected or impressive

"What a coup!"

"Winning the championship with a last-second goal was an incredible coup for the underdog team."

a small group of people in a society who enjoy a lot of advantages because of their economic, intellectual, etc. superiority

"The elite group meets in private."

"The elite military unit underwent the most rigorous training program in the armed forces."

a chorus or group of dancers in a ballet company

"The ballet ensemble danced gracefully."

"The esteemed ballet ensemble captivated the audience with their synchronized and breathtaking performance."

the main segment of a meal

"The entree was served."

"For her entree she chose grilled salmon with roasted vegetables and wild rice."

the act of dealing with a situation in a subtle and skillful way

"She handled it with finesse."

"The diplomat navigated the delicate negotiations with remarkable finesse and tact."

a carnival held on Shrove Tuesday in some countries, especially in New Orleans

"We celebrate Mardi Gras."

"The vibrant parades and festive atmosphere of Mardi Gras filled the streets with joyous celebration."

a collection or mixture of miscellaneous items, often diverse in nature

"This is a potpourri."

"The library offered a rich potpourri of literary genres, appealing to every reader's taste."

a refined and often luxurious room in a private residence or establishment used for entertaining guests or hosting intellectual gatherings

"The salon was very elegant."

"We hosted a sophisticated gathering in the grand salon, complete with fine art and classical music."

a private discussion, often between two people

"They had a tete-a-tete."

"The manager requested a private tete-a-tete with the employee to discuss performance issues."

used to indicate a comparison or contrast between two things or people

"Vis-a-vis, this is better."

"Our company's market share has grown significantly vis-a-vis our main competitors over the last fiscal year."

an artificial or inferior substitute or imitation

"The ersatz coffee tastes nothing like the real thing."

"The ersatz coffee made from roasted grains did not taste anything like the real thing."

a very good-looking or sexually appealing young man

"He was a true adonis."

"He is considered a real adonis because of his perfect looks and charming personality."

a dessert typically made with fruits such as oranges and bananas, often mixed with shredded coconut and sometimes whipped cream

"Ambrosia has fruit coconut marshmallows."

"Ambrosia salad was a sweet mixture of mandarin oranges coconut marshmallows and whipped cream."

stimulating sexual desire

"The food is aphrodisiac."

"The aphrodisiac properties of chocolate are widely believed but scientists have found little evidence to support this claim."

the sweet juice from fruits, often undiluted and pure

"The nectar tasted sweet."

"She enjoyed a glass of pure, undiluted nectar from freshly squeezed mangoes."