Earl of Warwick's definitions

take issue with

A more unusual way of saying that the speaker would like to say that something is bothering them.

You know I must take issue with that you call all sparkling wine Champagne, Champagne comes specifically from the french wine region named Champagne, all sparkling wines are therefore not necessarily Champagne.

by Earl of Warwick August 1, 2017

arriviste

Someone who has become rich so fast he does not possess manners and taste befitting the upper class. Synonym of parvenu.

The Russian millionaires who became rich in the nighties are the epitome of a pretentious arriviste.

by Earl of Warwick July 7, 2017

Cordon Bleu

Means high quality, litarly blue ribbon. A possible explanation of the orgin of the words meaning is that at competions in France the winner would get a blue ribbon, hence blue ribbon became to be associatied with the best.

Marcus: Last month I went to a nice little bistroesque restaurant on the hilltop overlooking the city, had an exquisite Buridda (Italian dish from Liguria), accompanied with an equally fine wine and a fabulous date.

Jacques: So, in other words a dinner cordon bleu

Marcus: Pretty much

by Earl of Warwick July 22, 2017

Legume

Legume as a English word means (certain) vegetables like lentils, peas, beans, soybeans and peanuts. Not to be confused with the french word witch means vegetables in a general sense.

pretentious Pete: Now that autumn is upon us, I can finally make luscious heartwarming soups, stews and casseroles out of legume.

simple Simon: Legym!, WTF are you talking about?

pretentious Pete: (Shocked that Simon does not understand this rarely used word, then condescendingly:) you know beans, peas, lentils and so forth. The sort of vegetables your under educated, peasant relatives lived on hundreds of years ago.

by Earl of Warwick July 29, 2017

bien entendu

It means of course or obviously. The last letter u is pronounce more like ü in German.

Rebecca: So did you remember to buy rosé wine for the pistou ( soup form Provence)?.

Alexander: Bien entendu, it is the quintessential drink for a pistou.

by Earl of Warwick August 13, 2017

le mot juste

A fancy word for just the right word someone is lucking for. The last t in mot and the last e in juste is not pronounced (since it is a french word (french pronunciation rules))

Example 1

Person A: At first I did not like Alex he seemed a bit unsympathetic, well not unsympatheic but not that talkative and a bit reserved, you know what I mean.

Person B: You mean introverted

Person A: precisely le mot juste

Example 2 (From Frasier Season 5 Episode 8)

Frasier: Wait! Wait, my God, it's really for the sake of our future

relationships. I mean, it just, I know that you're afraid to

hurt my feelings but I can stand a little constructive

criticism. Now, come on, please, what do you think are my

main faults?

Daphne: Well, if I had to choose, I'd say you are a bit of a fuss

budget.

Frasier: Fuss budget! Well, listen, if you don't mind the

substitution, I think maybe "demanding" is more the mot

juste.

by Earl of Warwick October 27, 2017

Rapport

To get along with someone really well. It is quite commonly used but still somewhat obscure, in other words possibly a good word to impress someone.

After many years of hard work and dedication, I have achieved a good rapport with my sister.

by Earl of Warwick October 11, 2017