l'esprit de l'escalier

Language: French · [lɛspʁi d(ə) lɛskalje] · Pronunciation: less-PREE duh less-kal-YAY

Meaning

thinking of the perfect reply only once it is too late

The story

Denis Diderot described it after a dinner where a remark left him speechless: he only found his answer at the bottom of the stairs. English borrowed the whole phrase, while its own old word for the same thing, afterwit, faded away.

The four rounds

Which language is it from?: French
What does it literally say?: Wit of the staircase
Where would you hear it?: The shower, replaying yesterday's row
What does it mean?: Thinking of the perfect reply too late

Play this word Play today's word

practice word · ‹ Previous practice word · Next practice word › · All words