Book description
If you have ever been bamboozled by the use of a foreign word or
phrase, or simply want to spice up your vocabulary with some well-chosen
bons mots, then this is the book for you. Thousands of foreign words and
phrases have been absorbed into the language and are currently used in
English, from the everyday (macho, tete-a-tete, spaghetti) to the
relatively obscure (ultra vires, auto-da-fe). Faux Pas focuses on
familiar terms and expressions as well as those that are new, curious or
amusing. Each expression is 'translated', with an indication of its
language of origin and pronunciation, a comment on its usefulness and a
Pretentiousness Index.
