500 Foreign Words and Phrases You Should Know to Sound Smart (16 page)

per ardua ad alta
(Latin) (pare AHR-doo-ah ad AL-tah) (phrase)

Through difficulties to the heights. The motto of a number of universities, it is meant, no doubt, to remind students that the road to graduation is a challenging one and they will have to struggle to reach the dizzying goal of a bachelor’s degree. The failure of most students to understand this concept can no doubt be attributed to the fact that they don’t know enough Latin to understand what the sentence means.

per capita
(Latin) (per KAP-i-ta) (adv.)

Literally, “for each head.” For each person.

We’ve decided to allocate two slices of bread and three pieces of cheese PER CAPITA, which should help us survive until help arrives
.

per diem
(Latin) (per DEE-em) (adv./noun)

For each day. This sometimes refers to a sum of money allocated for expenses on a business trip.

My PER DIEM for trips is usually $75, but since I’m going to Vegas, I’ve asked them to raise it to $500. That should get me through the night
.

perestroika
(Russian) (per-es-STROH-ee-kah) (noun)

Literally, “restructuring,” this was a political movement within the Soviet Union in the 1980s that eventually led to the end of the U.S.S.R. (see
glasnost
). Initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–), it aimed at reducing the power of the Soviet bureaucracy and creating stronger ties between the Communist Party and the people. What it actually did was expose the corruption within all layers of the party and the Soviet government.

perpetuum mobile
(Latin) (pare-PEH-too-oom MOH-bee-lay) (adv.)

A musical term that literally means “perpetual motion.” In a piece of music, it indicates that a passage should be played at a rapid tempo. Alternately, it can indicate that a piece should be repeated indefinitely.

per se
(Latin) (per SAY) (adv.)

As such.

My cousin isn’t unemployed PER SE, but since he works for himself, and he’s a lousy boss, he never asks very much of his employee, which means he tends to stay in bed until noon
.

persona non grata
(Latin) (per-SOHN-ah non GRAH-tah) (noun)

An unwelcome person. Someone not legally recognized.

Ever since that unfortunate incident involving the flight attendant, the poodle, and the Cheez Whiz, most airlines have declared me PERSONA NON GRATA
.

pièce de résistance
(French) (pee-ECE de ray-ZIS-tahns) (noun)

Literally, “A piece of resistance.” Colloquially, the showpiece or centerpiece of something, usually a meal. The idea is that this is a dish that resists convention and makes the entire meal unique.

Tonight for the PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE we have a casserole of tripe and tuna, with a smidgeon of caviar to finish it off
.

pied-à-terre
(French) (pee-EHD a TARE) (noun)

A temporary residence. A second home, usually a small apartment.

Because I work in New York but live in Massachusetts, I have taken a PIED-À-TERRE in Brooklyn so I have somewhere to stay during the week
.

plotz
(Yiddish) (PLOTZ) (verb)

To burst as a result of powerful emotional turmoil.

So excited I am by this news that you and your fourth cousin Sylvia are engaged, I’m going to PLOTZ. Sit down and we’ll start planning the wedding
.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose
(French) (ploo sah SHANZH ploo say lah MEM SHOWZ) (phrase)

The more things change, the more they remain the same. This comment has been attributed to Jean-Baptiste Karr (1808–1890), a French critic and journalist who made the comment in 1849. He perhaps had in mind the massive political uprisings across Europe the previous year, which, although they resulted in changes in governments, did not overthrow the established order.

Nota Bene

Although it’s true that things often change only superficially, the 1848 uprisings in Europe did have one far-reaching effect. In Germany, two young men penned a document for the League of Just Men, in an attempt to establish its political program. The men were Karl Marx (1818–1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820–1895), and the pamphlet they produced was titled
The Communist Manifesto
.

poco a poco
(Spanish) (POH-koh ah POH-koh) (adv.)

Little by little. A little bit at a time.

Getting the piano up these twelve flights of stairs may seem like an impossible job, but the three of us are accomplishing it POCO A POCO
.

point d’appui
(French) (PWAN dah-PWEE) (noun)

A point of appearance. In military usage, the point at which troops are located before being flung into battle. A staging ground, as it were.

We’ve placed our forces at a POINT D’APPUI behind this hill so they’ll be invisible to the enemy. Of course, if the enemy has spy planes, we’re screwed
.

Nota Bene

Among the most successful and largest staging operation in history was that carried out by the Western Allies in 1944 on the eve of the invasion of France. Nearly 200,000 troops were assembled in Britain, and on June 6 they crossed the English Channel to land on the beaches of Normandy. The German leadership had been convinced that the invasion, when it came, would occur elsewhere (specially, at Calais) and thus the Allies gained a strategic foothold on the Continent.

por favor
(Spanish) (por fahv-OR) (interjection)

Please.

Could you get me another order of enchiladas and some cold beer to go with that, POR FAVOR? Gracias
.

posse comitatus
(Latin) (POS-say kom-i-TAH-tus) (noun)

An act passed by Congress in 1878 that limits the degree to which federal troops may be used to enforce the law. The act has been the subject of a great deal of argument and was invoked in the 1960s by Southern states, which claimed that under its provisions, the federal government could not send in troops to states in the South to enforce desegregation. President Eisenhower, however, invoked legislation that allowed the federal government to send troops when state authorities refused to suppress violence threatening the lives and liberties of citizens. The result was that in 1958, federal troops helped desegregate the high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.

post hoc ergo propter hoc
(Latin) (post hok ER-go PROP-ter hok) (phrase)

Literally, “After this, therefore that.” A logical fallacy that states that because one action or event followed another, the first must necessarily have caused the second.

Nota Bene

During the television show
The West Wing
, President Josiah Bartlet had the following exchange with C.J., his press secretary; Josh, a staff member; and Leo, his chief of staff:

Bartlet:
C.J., on your tombstone it’s gonna read, “Post hoc ergo propter hoc.”

C.J.:
Okay, but none of my visitors are going to be able to understand my tombstone.

Bartlet:
Twenty-seven lawyers in the room, anybody know, “Post hoc, ergo propter hoc”? Josh?

Josh:
Ah, post, after hoc, ergo, therefore… After hoc, therefore something else hoc.

Bartlet:
Thank you. Next? Leo.

Leo:
“After it, therefore because of it.”

Bartlet:
“After it, therefore because of it.” It means one thing follows the other, therefore it was caused by the other. But it’s not always true. In fact it’s hardly ever true. We did not lose Texas because of the hat joke. Do you know when we lost Texas?

C.J.:
When you learned to speak Latin?

post scriptum
(Latin) (post SKRIP-tum) (noun)

Usually abbreviated
P.S
., this is an afterthought added at the end of a letter.

P.S. Can you stop by the store on the way home and pick up a gallon of rum, a gallon of rye, and a gallon of tequila? I feel like celebrating tonight
.

prêt-à-porter
(French) (PRET ah por-TAY) (adj.)

Ready to wear; off the rack. Generally, clothes described this way are not as good as ones made to order.

I’ve got this party I’m going to tonight and all my good clothes are at the cleaner. I’m going to need to buy something PRÊT-À-PORTER. I just hope I don’t look too tacky
.

prima facie
(Latin) (PREE-mah FAH-kee-ay) (adv.)

Literally, “on first encounter.” In legal terms, this refers to evidence that appears self-evident and needs no significant corroboration.

Your Honor, since my client is a quadraplegic, I wish to point out that the prosecution’s argument that he is a smash-and-grab thief who snatches purses is PRIMA FACIE ridiculous
.

primum mobile
(Latin) (PREE-mum MOH-bee-lay) (adj.)

First moved. In medieval astronomy, the outermost of the concentric spheres that held the planets and the stars and set them in their motion across the skies.

Nota Bene

Medieval astronomers believed that various heavenly bodies were affixed to crystalline spheres that moved in complicated patterns around Earth. This was, of course, in keeping with the church-inspired notion that Earth, God’s creation, was at the center of the universe. At times, it was believed, the spheres vibrated against one another, causing noise and giving rise to the expression “music of the spheres.”

primus inter pares
(Latin) (PREE-mus in-ter PAH-rayz) (noun)

First among equals. In theory, the early Roman emperors, starting with Augustus (63
B.C.
–
A.D.
14) were simply Senators who had been temporarily elevated to command of the Roman state. Whether Augustus believed this nonsense is open to question, but his successors certainly did not and accepted that they ruled as absolute monarchs. Today, more often than not the expression conceals a similar fiction in various organizations.

Some politicians maintain that the Speaker of the House is merely PRIMUS INTER PARES, while others recognize him as a leader who has been elevated to lead his party with absolute authority
.

prix fixe
(French) (pree feeks) (noun)

In dining, a meal with a set price and set courses. Usually restaurants will offer both a
prix fixe
menu and one that includes
à la carte
items.

The PRIX FIXE dinner includes lobster and a chocolate mousse to follow. I’m sold on that
.

pro bono publico
(Latin) (pro BOH-noh PUB-li-koh) (adv.)

For the public good. In legal circles, cases are sometimes undertaken by lawyers for greatly reduced fees (or, very occasionally, for no fee) if they deem the case in question to be one that could have a significant impact on the public welfare. Or, alternately, if it could promote their careers.

pro forma
(Latin) (pro FOR-mah) (adv.)

For form’s sake. Just to conform to the rules.

Before I offer you the position, could you just PRO FORMA fill out an application. That’ll make the folks in HR happy
.

pro rata
(Latin) (pro RAH-tah) (adv.)

In proportion.

I need you to bill the number of hours PRO RATA on this job, taking into consideration its benefit to the firm and how much time you think it’s going to take in the future
.

pure laine
(French) (poor LEN) (adj.)

Literally, “pure wool,” the term has come to mean true or loyal. Only the French, be it said, would be able to make the connection between sheep and politics, but then the French can connect pretty much anything to politics.

Before allowing him into our caucus at the convention, we’ve asked around to determine if he’s PURE LAINE. It’s all right. He’s given lots of money to our wing of the party
.

“Not only does the English language borrow words from other languages, it sometimes chases them down allyes, hits them over the head, and goes through their pockets.”

—Eddy Peters

Q

qua
(Latin) (KWA) (adverb)

In the way of.

To discuss literature QUA literary theory, one must know the subject matter thoroughly
.

Quellenforschung
(German) (kel-len-FOR-shung) (noun)

Study of the origins of a work of literature. German scholarship comes up with words like this; that is why German university professors, in all their photographs, tend to look ponderous and gloomy, as if they were thinking important thoughts of word significance rather than, I wonder how long this is going to take so I can get back to my beer and sausages.

If, for some reason, you should want a graduate degree in English, QUELLENFORSCHUNG is necessary
.

Quem di diligunt adulescens moritur
(Latin) (kwem dee di-li-GUNT ad-you-LESS-kens MOR-ee-toor) (phrase)

Those whom the gods love, die young. Billy Joel (1949–) used this expression (in English) as the title of a song, “Only the Good Die Young,” which, sadly, is probably the only way most people today know it.

The tragic death of the high school football player right after the big game illustrates that the Romans were right in saying QUEM DI DILIGUNT ADULESCENS MORITUR
.