What Do They Really Mean? French Definitions of Common English Expressons
There are phrases you commonly use have their origin in the French language. We are going to examine some of these phrases and compare the English definition with the actual, literal meaning. You would be well-served to make a study of some of these expressions and begin incorporating them into your vocabulary.

Au contraire. In both English and French, this common expression means "to the contrary."

Double entendre. In English, this refers to a word or phrase that can have two different meanings, especially when one meaning can be taken as something rude or impolite. The French word "entendre" means "to understand," so the phrase literally stands for "double understanding."

Au naturel. This expression has retained its original French meaning, which means nude or in a natural state.

Je ne sais quoi. The literal meaning in French is "I don't know what." In English, this term refers to a quality or attribute that is difficult to describe. This word is often used in a melodramatic sense to describe something of a very desirable yet mysterious nature. Use this one the next time you are at a party to make yourself sound more intelligent.

Adroit. In English, this word means skillful and adept. The original French meaning is "to right."

Concierge. This word has essentially the same meaning in both English and French, but the English definition is a little more narrow because in French it can refer to any building caretaker who lives near the entrance.

Déjà vu. In French, this expression literally means "already seen." In English, the original definition has been extended to refer to the illusion or feeling of having already experienced something that is happening for the first time.

As you can see, in many cases the English definition of these phrases is very close to the original definition. However, it is less important to know the true meaning than it is to know how to use (and pronounce) these phrases in your business vocabulary. In the business world, it is often important to portray an image of intelligence and class, so learning expressions like those above can help you accomplish that.

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