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.

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the great game

A term used to describe the political turmoil caused by Russian ambition for expansion in central Asia. Britain was worried that this would eventually lead to a Anglo-Russian war and threaten Britain's claim to India. The term is not used much to day but it is perhaps mostly associated with the novel Kim. Kim is a novel written by Rudyard Kipling, a British poet and journalist who was in favor of colonialism.

Had Britain supported the Mujaheddin forces in the Soviet–Afghan War, then it could have evoked memories of the great game

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Chalet

Is a French word for cottage or more specially a cottage around the alps. Still in some cases it may refer to any cottage. One important thing to remember is that the t at the end is not pronounce.

Marcus is taking his girlfriend to his chalet near St. Moritz.

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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

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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.

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.

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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.