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77 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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au courant
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well informed, up to date
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blase
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tired of pleasures, bored
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bourgeois
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having to do w/ middle class, concerned w/ petty, materialistic interests (lacking culture)
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chic
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stylish
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clairvoyant
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clear-sighted, unusually perceptive
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complaisant
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willing to please, obliging, amiable
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debonair
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courteous, gracious, and charming
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gauche
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lacking social grace, crude, tactless, awkward
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maladroit
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unskillful, clumsy
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naive
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simple in nature, artless, ingenuous
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nonchalant
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w/o concern or enthusiasm, indifferent
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attache
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member of diplomatic staff of an ambassador or minister
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bourgeoisie
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the middle class
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charge d'affaires
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temporary substitute for an ambassador
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concierge
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doorkeeper, custodian, janitor
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confrere
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colleague, coworker, comrade
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connoisseur
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expert, critical judge
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coterie
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set or circle of aquaintances, clique
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debutante
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young woman who has just had her debut
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devotee
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zealous follower, ardent adherent of something or someone, fan
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elite
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group of individuals thought to be superior, aristocracy, choice part
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emigre
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refugee, person who has fled from his or her land b/c of political conditions
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entourage
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group of attendants, assistants, or associates
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entrepreneur
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one who assumes the risks and management of a business
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envoy
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diplomatic agent or messenger
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fiance
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person engaged to be married
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gendarme
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armed police officer, esp. in France or other European Countries
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gourmand
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person excessively fond of eating or drinking, glutton
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gourmet
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connoisseur in eating and drinking
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ingenue
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actress playing the role of a naive young woman, or just the ladder
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maitre d'hotel
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headwaiter
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martinet
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person who enforces very strict discipline
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nonpareil
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person of unequalled excellence, paragon
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nouveaux riches
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persons newly rich
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parvenu (parvenue, fem)
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person suddenly risen to wealth or ppower but lacks social qualifications
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protege
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person under the care of another
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reconteur
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person who excels in telling stories
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valet
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manservant who attends to the personal needs of his employer, as by taking care of his employer's clothes
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aplomb
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absolute confidence in oneself, poise, self-possession
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eclat
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brilliancy of achievement
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elan
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enthusiasm, eagerness for action
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ennui
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feeling of weariness and discontent, boredom, tedium
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esprit de corps
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feeling of union and ocmmon interest pervading a group, devotion to a group or its ideas
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finesse
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skill and adroitness in handling a difficult situation
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legerdemain
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sleight of hand, artful trick
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malaise
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vague feeling of bodily discomfort or illness
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noblesse oblige
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principle that persons of high rank or birth are obliged to act nobly
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rapport
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relationship characterized by harmony, conformity, or affinity
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sangfroid
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coolness of mind or composure in idfficult circumstances; equanimity
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savoir faire
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knowledge of just what to do, tact
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adieu
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good-bye, farewell
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au revoir
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good-bye til we meet again
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billet-doux
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love letter
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bon mot
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clever saying, witty remark
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brochure
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pamphlet, treatise
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canard
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false rumor, absurd story, hoax
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cliche
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trite or wornout expression
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entre nous
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between us; confidentially
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mot juste
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the exactly right word
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nom de plume
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pen name, pseudonym
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precis
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brief summary
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repartee
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skill of replying quckly, cleverly, and humorously; witty reply
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resume
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brief account of professional qualifications and experience submitted by an applicant
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riposte
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quick retort or repartee
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tete-a-tete
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private conversation between 2 persons
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bete noire
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object or person dreaded, bugbear
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carte blanche
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full decretionary power, freedom to use one's own judgement
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cause celebre
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famous case in law that arouses considerable interest, incident attracting much attention
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contretemps
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inoppurtune occurance; embarrassing situation or mishap
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cul-de-sac
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blind alley
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debacle
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overthrow, collapse, or rout
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fait accompli
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thing already done
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faux pas
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misstep or blunder in conduct
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impasse
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deadlock, predicament affording no escape; impassable road
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liaison
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bond, linking up, coordination of activities
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melange
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mixture; medly, potpourri
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mirage
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optical illusion
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