No1 … coup de grâce
… coup de grâce
… The scandal delivered the coup de grâce to his political career.
… The final defeat was the coup de grâce for the struggling team.
… coup de grâce is a final blow that ends a fight or causes someone’s defeat
… coup de grâce
/ coup de grâce
… The scandal delivered the coup de grâce to his political career.
/ The scandal delivered the coup de grâce to his political career.
The final defeat was the coup de grâce for the struggling team.
/ The final defeat was the coup de grâce for the struggling team.
No2 … fait accompli
… fait accompli
… The merger was presented as a fait accompli.
… By the time we heard about it, the decision was already a fait accompli.
… fait accompli is something that has already happened and cannot be changed
… fait accompli
/ fait accompli
… The merger was presented as a fait accompli.
/ The merger was presented as a fait accompli.
By the time we heard about it, the decision was already a fait accompli.
/ By the time we heard about it, the decision was already a fait accompli.
No3 … raison d’être
… raison d’être
… Helping others became her raison d’être.
… Innovation is the company’s raison d’être.
… raison d’être is the reason for existing or the main purpose of something
… raison d’être
/ raison d’être
… Helping others became her raison d’être.
/ Helping others became her raison d’être.
Innovation is the company’s raison d’être.
/ Innovation is the company’s raison d’être.
No4 … carte blanche
… carte blanche
… The director was given carte blanche to redesign the project.
… The manager gave her carte blanche to hire new staff.
… carte blanche is complete freedom or permission to act as one wishes
… carte blanche
/ carte blanche
… The director was given carte blanche to redesign the project.
/ The director was given carte blanche to redesign the project.
The manager gave her carte blanche to hire new staff.
/ The manager gave her carte blanche to hire new staff.
No5 … vis-à-vis
… vis-à-vis
… We need to clarify our position vis-à-vis the competition.
… The country’s policy vis-à-vis immigration has changed.
… vis-à-vis is in relation to; facing or opposite
… vis-à-vis
/ vis-à-vis
… We need to clarify our position vis-à-vis the competition.
/ We need to clarify our position vis-à-vis the competition.
The country’s policy vis-à-vis immigration has changed.
/ The country’s policy vis-à-vis immigration has changed.
No6 … déjà vu
… déjà vu
… When I visited the town, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu.
… The scene gave me a sense of déjà vu.
… déjà vu is the feeling that one has experienced a present situation before
… déjà vu
/ déjà vu
… When I visited the town, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu.
/ When I visited the town, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu.
The scene gave me a sense of déjà vu.
/ The scene gave me a sense of déjà vu.
No7 … faux pas
… faux pas
… He made a social faux pas by asking her age.
… Wearing jeans to the formal event was considered a faux pas.
… faux pas is a social mistake or embarrassing error
… faux pas
/ faux pas
… He made a social faux pas by asking her age.
/ He made a social faux pas by asking her age.
Wearing jeans to the formal event was considered a faux pas.
/ Wearing jeans to the formal event was considered a faux pas.
No8 … à la carte
… à la carte
… We decided to order à la carte instead of choosing a set menu.
… The restaurant offers both buffet and à la carte options.
… à la carte is allowing customers to choose individual dishes from a menu
… à la carte
/ à la carte
… We decided to order à la carte instead of choosing a set menu.
/ We decided to order à la carte instead of choosing a set menu.
The restaurant offers both buffet and à la carte options.
/ The restaurant offers both buffet and à la carte options.
No9 … bon voyage
… bon voyage
… We gathered at the station to wish them bon voyage.
… “Bon voyage!” she called as her friend boarded the ship.
… bon voyage is a phrase meaning “have a good journey”
… bon voyage
/ bon voyage
… We gathered at the station to wish them bon voyage.
/ We gathered at the station to wish them bon voyage.
“Bon voyage!” she called as her friend boarded the ship.
/ “Bon voyage!” she called as her friend boarded the ship.
No10 … crème de la crème
… crème de la crème
… The conference attracted the crème de la crème of the scientific world.
… This university recruits the crème de la crème of applicants.
… crème de la crème is the very best people or things in a group
… crème de la crème
/ crème de la crème
… The conference attracted the crème de la crème of the scientific world.
/ The conference attracted the crème de la crème of the scientific world.
This university recruits the crème de la crème of applicants.
/ This university recruits the crème de la crème of applicants.
No11 … enfant terrible
… enfant terrible
… The young artist became known as the enfant terrible of modern art.
… He was regarded as the enfant terrible of the political movement.
… enfant terrible is a person who behaves in an unconventional or shocking way
… enfant terrible
/ enfant terrible
… The young artist became known as the enfant terrible of modern art.
/ The young artist became known as the enfant terrible of modern art.
He was regarded as the enfant terrible of the political movement.
/ He was regarded as the enfant terrible of the political movement.
No12 … tête-à-tête
… tête-à-tête
… The two leaders held a private tête-à-tête before the summit.
… We had a long tête-à-tête over coffee.
… tête-à-tête is a private conversation between two people
… tête-à-tête
/ tête-à-tête
… The two leaders held a private tête-à-tête before the summit.
/ The two leaders held a private tête-à-tête before the summit.
We had a long tête-à-tête over coffee.
/ We had a long tête-à-tête over coffee.
No13 … joie de vivre
… joie de vivre
… Her joie de vivre was contagious.
… Despite his age, he still has a remarkable joie de vivre.
… joie de vivre is a cheerful enjoyment of life
… joie de vivre
/ joie de vivre
… Her joie de vivre was contagious.
/ Her joie de vivre was contagious.
Despite his age, he still has a remarkable joie de vivre.
/ Despite his age, he still has a remarkable joie de vivre.
No14 … pièce de résistance
… pièce de résistance
… The chef’s famous dessert was the pièce de résistance of the meal.
… The keynote speech was the pièce de résistance of the conference.
… pièce de résistance is the most important or impressive part of something
… pièce de résistance
/ pièce de résistance
… The chef’s famous dessert was the pièce de résistance of the meal.
/ The chef’s famous dessert was the pièce de résistance of the meal.
The keynote speech was the pièce de résistance of the conference.
/ The keynote speech was the pièce de résistance of the conference.
No15 … esprit de corps
… esprit de corps
… The coach worked hard to build esprit de corps among the players.
… Strong esprit de corps helped the team overcome difficulties.
… esprit de corps is a feeling of unity and loyalty among members of a group
… esprit de corps
/ esprit de corps
… The coach worked hard to build esprit de corps among the players.
/ The coach worked hard to build esprit de corps among the players.
Strong esprit de corps helped the team overcome difficulties.
/ Strong esprit de corps helped the team overcome difficulties.
No16 … nom de plume
… nom de plume
… Mark Twain was the nom de plume of Samuel Clemens.
… The novelist published her work under a nom de plume.
… nom de plume is a name used by a writer instead of their real name
… nom de plume
/ nom de plume
… Mark Twain was the nom de plume of Samuel Clemens.
/ Mark Twain was the nom de plume of Samuel Clemens.
The novelist published her work under a nom de plume.
/ The novelist published her work under a nom de plume.
No17 … laissez-faire
… laissez-faire
… The government adopted a laissez-faire approach to the economy.
… Critics argued that the laissez-faire policy favored large corporations.
… laissez-faire is a policy of allowing people or businesses to act with little interference
… laissez-faire
/ laissez-faire
… The government adopted a laissez-faire approach to the economy.
/ The government adopted a laissez-faire approach to the economy.
Critics argued that the laissez-faire policy favored large corporations.
/ Critics argued that the laissez-faire policy favored large corporations.
No18 … nouveau riche
… nouveau riche
… The mansion was built by a nouveau riche businessman.
… Some members of the old elite looked down on the nouveau riche.
… nouveau riche is a person who has recently become rich but lacks the manners or culture associated with wealth
… nouveau riche
/ nouveau riche
… The mansion was built by a nouveau riche businessman.
/ The mansion was built by a nouveau riche businessman.
Some members of the old elite looked down on the nouveau riche.
/ Some members of the old elite looked down on the nouveau riche.
No19 … ménage à trois
… ménage à trois
… The novel centers on a complicated ménage à trois.
… The film portrays a ménage à trois that leads to unexpected conflicts.
… ménage à trois is a romantic or sexual relationship involving three people
… ménage à trois
/ ménage à trois
… The novel centers on a complicated ménage à trois.
/ The novel centers on a complicated ménage à trois.
The film portrays a ménage à trois that leads to unexpected conflicts.
/ The film portrays a ménage à trois that leads to unexpected conflicts.
No20 … cul-de-sac
… cul-de-sac
… The children played safely in the cul-de-sac.
… Their house is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
… cul-de-sac is a situation or place with no way forward or out
… cul-de-sac
/ cul-de-sac
… The children played safely in the cul-de-sac.
/ The children played safely in the cul-de-sac.
Their house is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
/ Their house is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
No21 … de facto
… de facto
… English is the de facto international language of business.
… He became the de facto leader of the group.
… de facto is existing in fact, even if not officially recognized
… de facto
/ de facto
… English is the de facto international language of business.
/ English is the de facto international language of business.
He became the de facto leader of the group.
/ He became the de facto leader of the group.
No22 … de jure
… de jure
… The country remained a colony de jure for many years.
… She was the de jure owner of the property.
… de jure is existing or recognized according to law
… de jure
/ de jure
… The country remained a colony de jure for many years.
/ The country remained a colony de jure for many years.
She was the de jure owner of the property.
/ She was the de jure owner of the property.
No23 … status quo
… status quo
… Many voters wanted to maintain the status quo.
… The reform challenged the political status quo.
… status quo is the existing state of affairs
… status quo
/ status quo
… Many voters wanted to maintain the status quo.
/ Many voters wanted to maintain the status quo.
The reform challenged the political status quo.
/ The reform challenged the political status quo.
No24 … per se
… per se
… Money is not evil per se.
… The technology itself is not dangerous per se.
… per se is in itself; by itself
… per se
/ per se
… Money is not evil per se.
/ Money is not evil per se.
The technology itself is not dangerous per se.
/ The technology itself is not dangerous per se.
No25 … vice versa
… vice versa
… Parents influence their children, and vice versa.
… The company depends on its customers, and vice versa.
… vice versa is with the order or meaning reversed
… vice versa
/ vice versa
… Parents influence their children, and vice versa.
/ Parents influence their children, and vice versa.
The company depends on its customers, and vice versa.
/ The company depends on its customers, and vice versa.
No26 … ad hoc
… ad hoc
… An ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the issue.
… We held an ad hoc meeting to deal with the emergency.
… ad hoc is created or done for a particular purpose or situation
… ad hoc
/ ad hoc
… An ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the issue.
/ An ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the issue.
We held an ad hoc meeting to deal with the emergency.
/ We held an ad hoc meeting to deal with the emergency.
No27 … alter ego
… alter ego
… The superhero’s alter ego is a shy journalist.
… Writing became his creative alter ego.
… alter ego is a second self or a person with a very close relationship to another
… alter ego
/ alter ego
… The superhero’s alter ego is a shy journalist.
/ The superhero’s alter ego is a shy journalist.
Writing became his creative alter ego.
/ Writing became his creative alter ego.
No28 … alma mater
… alma mater
… She returned to her alma mater as a guest speaker.
… His alma mater awarded him an honorary degree.
… alma mater is the school, college, or university that a person attended
… alma mater
/ alma mater
… She returned to her alma mater as a guest speaker.
/ She returned to her alma mater as a guest speaker.
His alma mater awarded him an honorary degree.
/ His alma mater awarded him an honorary degree.
No29 … bona fide
… bona fide
… She is a bona fide expert in environmental law.
… The museum confirmed that the painting was a bona fide masterpiece.
… bona fide is genuine; real; sincere
… bona fide
/ bona fide
… She is a bona fide expert in environmental law.
/ She is a bona fide expert in environmental law.
The museum confirmed that the painting was a bona fide masterpiece.
/ The museum confirmed that the painting was a bona fide masterpiece.
No30 … caveat
… caveat
… One caveat is that the results may not apply to all groups.
… The offer comes with an important caveat.
… caveat is a warning or condition that should be considered
… caveat
/ caveat
… One caveat is that the results may not apply to all groups.
/ One caveat is that the results may not apply to all groups.
The offer comes with an important caveat.
/ The offer comes with an important caveat.
No31 … curriculum vitae
… curriculum vitae
… Please submit your curriculum vitae with the application.
… His curriculum vitae includes experience in three countries.
… curriculum vitae is a document describing a person’s education, qualifications, and work experience
… curriculum vitae
/ curriculum vitae
… Please submit your curriculum vitae with the application.
/ Please submit your curriculum vitae with the application.
His curriculum vitae includes experience in three countries.
/ His curriculum vitae includes experience in three countries.
No32 … erratum
… erratum
… The publisher issued an erratum for the printing mistake.
… An erratum was added to correct the author’s name.
… erratum is a correction of an error in a published text
… erratum
/ erratum
… The publisher issued an erratum for the printing mistake.
/ The publisher issued an erratum for the printing mistake.
An erratum was added to correct the author’s name.
/ An erratum was added to correct the author’s name.
No33 … et cetera
… et cetera
… The shop sells books, magazines, stationery, et cetera.
… We discussed travel, food, sports, et cetera.
… et cetera is and so on; and other similar things
… et cetera
/ et cetera
… The shop sells books, magazines, stationery, et cetera.
/ The shop sells books, magazines, stationery, et cetera.
We discussed travel, food, sports, et cetera.
/ We discussed travel, food, sports, et cetera.
No34 … in vitro
… in vitro
… Scientists conducted the experiment in vitro.
… The cells were observed in vitro before clinical testing.
… in vitro is done or taking place outside a living organism, usually in a laboratory
… in vitro
/ in vitro
… Scientists conducted the experiment in vitro.
/ Scientists conducted the experiment in vitro.
The cells were observed in vitro before clinical testing.
/ The cells were observed in vitro before clinical testing.
No35 … in vivo
… in vivo
… The drug was tested in vivo on laboratory animals.
… Researchers studied the effects of the treatment in vivo.
… in vivo is done or taking place inside a living organism
… in vivo
/ in vivo
… The drug was tested in vivo on laboratory animals.
/ The drug was tested in vivo on laboratory animals.
Researchers studied the effects of the treatment in vivo.
/ Researchers studied the effects of the treatment in vivo.
No36 … modus operandi
… modus operandi
… The police identified the thief’s modus operandi.
… The fraudster changed his modus operandi to avoid detection.
… modus operandi is a particular way of doing something, especially a way of operating
… modus operandi
/ modus operandi
… The police identified the thief’s modus operandi.
/ The police identified the thief’s modus operandi.
The fraudster changed his modus operandi to avoid detection.
/ The fraudster changed his modus operandi to avoid detection.
No37 … persona non grata
… persona non grata
… After the scandal, he became persona non grata in the industry.
… The diplomat was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country.
… persona non grata is a person who is not welcome or acceptable
… persona non grata
/ persona non grata
… After the scandal, he became persona non grata in the industry.
/ After the scandal, he became persona non grata in the industry.
The diplomat was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country.
/ The diplomat was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country.
No38 … prima facie
… prima facie
… There is prima facie evidence of negligence.
… The case appeared prima facie valid.
… prima facie is based on what is seen or known at first; apparently true
… prima facie
/ prima facie
… There is prima facie evidence of negligence.
/ There is prima facie evidence of negligence.
The case appeared prima facie valid.
/ The case appeared prima facie valid.
No39 … quid pro quo
… quid pro quo
… Critics accused the officials of arranging a quid pro quo.
… The agreement was seen as a simple quid pro quo between the two companies.
… quid pro quo is something given or received in return for something else
… quid pro quo
/ quid pro quo
… Critics accused the officials of arranging a quid pro quo.
/ Critics accused the officials of arranging a quid pro quo.
The agreement was seen as a simple quid pro quo between the two companies.
/ The agreement was seen as a simple quid pro quo between the two companies.
No40 … sine qua non
… sine qua non
… Trust is the sine qua non of a successful relationship.
… Adequate funding is a sine qua non for the project.
… sine qua non is an essential condition or thing that is absolutely necessary
… sine qua non
/ sine qua non
… Trust is the sine qua non of a successful relationship.
/ Trust is the sine qua non of a successful relationship.
Adequate funding is a sine qua non for the project.
/ Adequate funding is a sine qua non for the project.
No41 … prima donna
… prima donna
… The lead singer has a reputation as a prima donna.
… Nobody likes working with a prima donna who demands special treatment.
… prima donna is a person who expects special treatment and behaves as if they are more important than others
… prima donna
/ prima donna
… The lead singer has a reputation as a prima donna.
/ The lead singer has a reputation as a prima donna.
Nobody likes working with a prima donna who demands special treatment.
/ Nobody likes working with a prima donna who demands special treatment.
No42 … crescendo
… crescendo
… The music built to a dramatic crescendo.
… Public anger reached a crescendo after the announcement.
… crescendo is a gradual increase in loudness, intensity, or strength
… crescendo
/ crescendo
… The music built to a dramatic crescendo.
/ The music built to a dramatic crescendo.
Public anger reached a crescendo after the announcement.
/ Public anger reached a crescendo after the announcement.
No43 … fiasco
… fiasco
… The product launch turned into a complete fiasco.
… Poor planning led to a logistical fiasco.
… fiasco is a complete and embarrassing failure
… fiasco
/ fiasco
… The product launch turned into a complete fiasco.
/ The product launch turned into a complete fiasco.
Poor planning led to a logistical fiasco.
/ Poor planning led to a logistical fiasco.
No44 … paparazzi
… paparazzi
… The actor was followed everywhere by paparazzi.
… The paparazzi gathered outside the hotel hoping for photos.
… paparazzi is photographers who follow famous people to take pictures of them
… paparazzi
/ paparazzi
… The actor was followed everywhere by paparazzi.
/ The actor was followed everywhere by paparazzi.
The paparazzi gathered outside the hotel hoping for photos.
/ The paparazzi gathered outside the hotel hoping for photos.
No45 … virtuoso
… virtuoso
… He is a virtuoso on the violin.
… The audience applauded the pianist’s virtuoso performance.
… virtuoso is a person who is extremely skilled at performing music
… virtuoso
/ virtuoso
… He is a virtuoso on the violin.
/ He is a virtuoso on the violin.
The audience applauded the pianist’s virtuoso performance.
/ The audience applauded the pianist’s virtuoso performance.
No46 … vendetta
… vendetta
… He carried on a personal vendetta against his former boss.
… The conflict turned into a long-running vendetta between the two families.
… vendetta is a long-lasting desire to harm someone because of a past wrong
… vendetta
/ vendetta
… He carried on a personal vendetta against his former boss.
/ He carried on a personal vendetta against his former boss.
The conflict turned into a long-running vendetta between the two families.
/ The conflict turned into a long-running vendetta between the two families.
No47 … bravado
… bravado
… His confidence was mostly bravado.
… The politician tried to hide his fear behind a show of bravado.
… bravado is a confident or brave appearance that may hide fear or uncertainty
… bravado
/ bravado
… His confidence was mostly bravado.
/ His confidence was mostly bravado.
The politician tried to hide his fear behind a show of bravado.
/ The politician tried to hide his fear behind a show of bravado.
No48 … dilettante
… dilettante
… Critics dismissed him as a dilettante rather than a serious scholar.
… She was interested in art but considered herself a dilettante.
… dilettante is a person who has an interest in a subject but is not a serious or expert practitioner
… dilettante
/ dilettante
… Critics dismissed him as a dilettante rather than a serious scholar.
/ Critics dismissed him as a dilettante rather than a serious scholar.
She was interested in art but considered herself a dilettante.
/ She was interested in art but considered herself a dilettante.
No49 … maestro
… maestro
… The orchestra performed under the direction of a famous maestro.
… The maestro received a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
… maestro is a highly skilled and respected musician, especially a conductor
… maestro
/ maestro
… The orchestra performed under the direction of a famous maestro.
/ The orchestra performed under the direction of a famous maestro.
The maestro received a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
/ The maestro received a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
No50 … incognito
… incognito
… The celebrity traveled incognito to avoid attention.
… He visited the city incognito and went largely unnoticed.
… incognito is with one’s identity concealed; using a false name or appearance
… incognito
/ incognito
… The celebrity traveled incognito to avoid attention.
/ The celebrity traveled incognito to avoid attention.
He visited the city incognito and went largely unnoticed.
/ He visited the city incognito and went largely unnoticed.
