500 Foreign Words and Phrases You Should Know to Sound Smart (13 page)

Lederhosen
(German) (LAY-der-HOZ-en) (noun)

Leather shorts, either knee-length or shorter, usually supported by two shoulder straps. They originated in the Alpine regions of Germany in Bavaria. Although still worn in those areas, their popularity has declined in the rest of Germany.

Even though we’re going to a beer festival, I don’t think it was necessary for you to wear LEDERHOSEN and a Tyrolean hat with a feather in it
.

Leitmotif
(German) (LAYT-moh-TEEF) (noun)

Leading motif. Originally a musical term, though it is sometimes also applied to literature. It refers to a recurring theme that is associated with a person, place, or idea.

In Prokofiev’s
Peter and the Wolf,
the LEITMOTIF of Peter is signaled by the orchestra’s string section
.

lèse-majesté
(French) (LEHZ MAH-zhess-tay) (noun)

An offense against the reigning monarch or ruler of a state. More generally, an offense committed against some significant power, either in a state or an organization.

For you to slap the CEO on the back and call him by his first name was an impermissible act of LÈSE-MAJESTÉ. Please clear out your desk and exit the building
.

lex talionis
(Latin) (LEX tal-ee-OH-neess) (noun)

Literally, “law of the talon.” More colloquially, the principle of “an eye for an eye”—he who injures a person shall receive the same injury. This concept of law dates back to the reign of the Babylonian monarch Hammurabi (d. 1750
B.C.
), whose laws were engraved on a series of
stelae
. To a great extent, it has disappeared from Western jurisprudence.

You took my cocktail, so, in accordance with LEX TALONIS, I’m going to take yours. And I’ll take your date along with it
.

Liebchen
(German) (LEEB-chen) (noun)

Sweetheart; dear. A term of affection, usually applied by a grownup to a child.

Come here, LIEBCHEN, and give your grandmother a nice hug and kiss
.

lingua franca
(Latin) (LING-wah FRANK-ah) (noun)

A language that makes it possible for people who don’t share the same linguistic background to communicate with one another.

Today, especially in business, English is the LINGUA FRANCA of the Western world
.

Nota Bene

There have been many attempts to create a universal language, but among the most ambitious was Esperanto. This constructed language was created by L. L. Zamenhof in 1887 in an attempt to transcend national borders and political disputes. Two world wars, one cold war, two atomic bombs, and many many regional conflicts later, it’s safe to say that Zamenhof was hopelessly optimistic in his plans for Esperanto. Nevertheless, it is estimated that today up to 2 million people are fluent in this language.

loco citato
(Latin) (LOH-ko kee-TAH-toh) (adv.)

Literally, “in the place cited.” In bibliographic citation, this refers to the previous place in the footnotes or endnotes in which a particular word was referred to.

locum tenens
(Latin) (LOH-kum TEN-enz) (noun)

Placeholder. Someone who temporarily does a job in place of someone else. The term is particularly applied to the medical and teaching professions.

Because Dr. Appleforth is, unfortunately, appearing before the medical board on charges of malpractice due to constant drunkenness, I am his LOCUM TENENS. And I hope you’ll feel more comfortable with me taking out your spleen than you would have with him
.

louche
(French) (LOOSH) (adj.)

Of questionable taste. In bad taste.

I think that for you to wear a Party Naked and Drink tee shirt to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous is LOUCHE—to put it mildly
.

“You live a new life for every new language you speak.”

—Czech proverb

M

magister dixit
(Latin) (mah-GIS-tare DEEKS-it) (phrase)

The teacher has said it. Although the teacher originally referred to by this medieval saying was Aristotle, it can be applied to anyone considered an irreproachable authority.

Stephen Hawking argues for the existence of black holes at the center of every galaxy, and since MAGISTER DIXIT, I’m inclined to go along with this argument
.

magna cum laude
(Latin) (MAG-nah koom LAW-day) (adv.)

With great praise. A qualification of an academic degree. One can achieve a degree by itself; with praise (see
cum laude
); with great praise; or with highest praise (see
summa cum laude
).

My daughter has just graduated from Wellesley College MAGNA CUM LAUDE with a degree in medieval philosophy. I wonder how long it’ll be before she’s back living at home
.

magnum opus
(Latin) (MAG-noom OH-pus) (noun)

Literally, “great work.” The most important or significant production of one’s career. Although it usually refers to a written work, it isn’t necessarily restricted to that.

I consider Samuel Johnson’s
A Dictionary of the English Language
to be his MAGNUM OPUS, one for which he’s still justly celebrated
.

mala fides
(Latin) (MAH-lah FEED-days) (adv.)

In bad faith. See
bona fides
.

Throughout this entire affair, I consider that you have been acting in MALA FIDES, and therefore I’m breaking off our partnership and going to the police with my concerns about your business practices. And you can just put down that crowbar, because you don’t scare me at all
.

mal de mer
(French) (MAHL de MARE) (noun)

Seasickness. Feeling as if you’re going to lose your lunch over the side of the boat sounds much more impressive if you can say it in French.

Even though the weather was calm and we were steering a clear course for the island, half the passengers were below decks suffering from MAL DE MER
.

mañana
(Spanish) (mahn-YAH-nah) (noun/adv.)

Literally, “tomorrow.” However, the more general meaning of this phrase is, “Whenever I get around to doing it, which could be tomorrow but equally could be next week, next month, next year, or never.”

There’s no need to worry about that hole in the roof. It’s probably not hurting anything. I’ll fix it MAÑANA
.

mano a mano
(Spanish) (MAH-no ah MAH-no) (adv.)

Literally, “hand to hand.” More generally, man to man. One on one. There’s a degree of machismo implied in this concept, that two big, sweaty, and possibly somewhat stupid men will stand face to face and slug out some dispute.

My beer is better than your beer, and I’ll go MANO A MANO with you to prove it
.

ma non troppo
(Italian) (MAH non TROH-poh) (adj.)

Not too much. Not excessive.

This passage is marked Allegro MA NON TROPPO, so don’t play it overly fast
.

manqué
(French) (man-KAY) (noun)

Literally, “to miss.” In general, someone or something who hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Although my friend graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and was a member of the best law firm in the country, he’s a bit of a legal MANQUÉ; he spends all of his time now soliciting hit-and-run insurance cases
.

mantra
(Sanskrit) (MAHN-trah) (noun)

In Hinduism, a word or group of words that is chanted in an effort to create a spiritual transformation. In English usage, it means an overriding theme or idea that’s expressed over and over again, usually until everyone within earshot is sick and tired of it.

The MANTRA of the Obama presidential administration has been Hope and Change
.

mare nostrum
(Latin) (MAH-ray NOS-trum) (phrase)

Literally, “our sea.” The way Romans (and other southern Europeans) referred to the Mediterranean Sea. Sometimes used to indicate something that’s considered a possession held in common by a number of people.

Although we tend to view our town fire department as MARE NOSTRUM, in fact it’s actually a private company, so we don’t have any real control over what it does
.

matériel
(French) (mah-TARE-ee-ell) (noun)

Literally, “equipment” or “hardware.” More commonly, it refers to military supplies.

We’ll be able to hold this position against the enemy, provided that we have an adequate supply of men and MATÉRIEL
.

maven
(Yiddish) (MAY-ven) (noun)

Someone whose expertise in a particular area is widely trusted. A teacher.

I can say, with all modesty, that I am a bit of a MAVEN in a number of areas, including philosophy, the arts, literature, mathematics, and string saving. But enough about me
.

mazel tov
(Yiddish) (MAH-zell toff) (interjection)

Good luck; congratulations.

I hear your son just graduated from dental school. MAZEL TOV!

mea culpa
(Latin) (MAY-ah KUL-pah) (interjection)

I am to blame. It’s my fault.

Since I was responsible for the accounting error that inadvertently caused the bank to pay $1.8 million into my personal bank account, I suppose some sort of MEA CULPA is in order. Not that I’m admitting any legal accountability, mind you
.

Media vita in morte sumus
(Latin) (MAY-dee-ah WE-tah in MOR-tay SOO-moos) (phrase)

In the midst of life, we are in death. A popular motto on gravestones, it probably originated in early medieval France. It also pops up, appropriately enough, in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel
Dracula
.

Meistersinger
(German) (MEYE-stir-zing-er) (noun)

Literally, “master singer.” In Germany in the late Middle Ages, singers and poets were members of urban associations called guilds. A member of one of these guilds was referred to as a Meistersinger. In 1868, Richard Wagner (1813–1883) composed
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
, considered to be among his most important works.

Nota Bene

Wagner was a notorious anti-Semite, something that no doubt contributed to the attraction Hitler felt for his works. The unfortunate result (as well as the fact that several of Wagner’s descendants were publicly associated with the Nazis) has been to link Wagner and Nazism in the public mind. In 1995, Wagner’s opera
The Flying Dutchman
was broadcast in Israel, marking the first time the composer’s music was publicly heard in the Jewish state.

mélange
(French) (may-LAHNZH) (noun)

Random mixture of things.

The interior of your house is a sort of MÉLANGE of furniture styles, ranging from Victorian to the steel-and-chrome constructs of the 1970s
.

memento mori
(Latin) (me-MEN-toh MOR-ee) (phrase)

Literally, “Remember your mortality.” In art, this refers to a genre of art, popular in the Middle Ages, the purpose of which was to emphasize human mortality and the vanity of human aspirations.

Walking through a cemetery, for me, serves as a MEMENTO MORI
.

ménage à trois
(French) (may-NAZH ah TWAH) (noun)

A sexual encounter involving three people at the same time. Every man’s ideal Christmas present but one that is, alas, rarely found under the tree.

I was involved in a MÉNAGE À TROIS several years ago, but it got complicated when one of the women’s Hell’s Angels boyfriend showed up unexpectedly
.

Mens sana in corpore sano
(Latin) (mens SAH-na in kor-POR-ay SAN-oh) (phrase)

A sound mind in a healthy body. The sort of thing personal trainers are apt to say to their clients in the midst of a particularly rough session at the gym.

meshugga
(Yiddish) (meh-SHUG-gah) (adj.)

Crazy; insane.

That girl, she’s a little MESHUGGA where men are concerned. She needs to settle down and meet a nice boy. Maybe my brother’s nephew would do
.

mi casa es su casa
(Spanish) (ME KAH-sa ess SOO KAH-sah) (phrase)

Literally, “My house is your house.” Generally, you’re welcome in my home; treat it as if it were your own.

I want you to feel completely at home here. MI CASA ES SU CASA. Just take off your shoes before you come in. And wash your hands before touching anything. And don’t use any of the towels; you might get marks on them
.

mirabile visu
(Latin) (mir-AH-bee-lay WE-zoo) (adv.)

Wonderful to see.

You know our 300-pound neighbor? Yesterday when I was out jogging, MIRABILE VISU I saw him as well. Of course, he was wearing lime green spandex, so now I’ll have to claw my face off
.

moi non plus
(French) (MWAH non ploo) (phrase)

Me neither. It was part of the title of a well-known French pop song, “Je t’aime… moi non plus,” sung as a duet by Serge Gainsbourg and sex bomb Brigitte Bardot in 1967. For its time, it was considered scandalous and was banned in the U.K., with the not-unexpected result that every British teenager knew the words by heart.

mise en place
(French) (MEEZ ohn plass) (noun)