| A | B |
|---|
| have a good trip | bon voyage |
| violent overthrow of a government | coup d'etat |
| term used in dining when items are ordered individually from the menu | a la carte |
| a competent judge, someone who appreciates something of value | connoisseur |
| repeat performance | encore |
| enthusiastic group spirit | esprit de corps |
| social blunder | faux pas |
| person who knows and appreciates fine food | gourmet |
| pen name assumed by an author | nom de plume |
| meeting place; romantic "date" | rendezvous |
| please reply (to invitation) | R.S.V.P. |
| malicious destruction of property | sabotage |
| disguise used to deceive the enemy | camouflage |
| free reign to do what one desires | carte blanche |
| cooking style, particularly of a specific country or region | cuisine |
| finger food, appetizers before a meal | hors d'oeuvres |
| upper middle-class | bourgeoisie |
| hands-off government policy | laissez-faire |
| completed and unchangeable act | fait accompli |
| on the way | en route |
| "born", to indicate that a woman's maiden name will follow | née |
| rules of accepted social behavior | etiquette |
| private conversation | tête à tête |
| morning (or early afternoon) showing of a movie or a play | matinée |
| innocent, simple | naive |
| upholstered couch-like chair | chaise lounge |
| flower symbol of the French Monarchy, Québec and the Boy Scouts | fleur de lys |
| type or kind, often used for literature | genre |
| young, foreign, female nanny | au pair |
| food doused in alcohol and set on fire | flambé |
| atmosphere | ambience |
| before dinner drink (usually liqueur, cocktail) | apéritif |
| circular, dead-end street | cul de sac |
| dream-like state | reverie |
| low cut bustline, often somewhat risqué | decolletage |
| an activity or event that turns into disaster | debacle |
| paper and watery-glue used to make a hollow decoration | papier mâché |
| clothes/linens a bride brings to a marriage (today: on her honeymoon) | trousseau |
| rubbish left over from destruction | debris |
| melted food dip(usually cheese or chocolate) | fondue |
| a seductive, sometimes "dangerous" woman | femme fatale |
| a small, baked dessert (finger food) | petit four |
| two separate meanings (often opposite) | double entendre |
| baked with grated cheese on top | au gratin |
| a political employee sent abroad on behalf of the gv't | attaché |
| a feeling of unwell, often emotionally based | malaise |
| a patch or design sewed on to another item | appliqué |
| unconcerned because of having done something many times before | blasé |
| friendship, often between those in a similar situation | camaraderie |
| the group of people (often employees) who travel with a famous/important person | entourage |
| ground, land (as in hilly, flat, etc.) | terrain |
| a public brawl involving a large group | melee |
| a flower that goes in a man's suitcoat buttonhole | boutonniere |
| being able to "see" the future or predict outcomes | clairvoyance |
| area that something takes place, often influenced by social setting | milieu |
| *as prescribed by custom/ expected | de rigueur |
| a fight involving only a few people | fracas |
