An A-to-Z collection of foreign phrases to add to your lexicon—and information about the quirky, fascinating origins of the English language.

Some foreign phrases are so good they become a sort of lingua franca. They capture the true zeitgeist, where the English translation is just comme ci, comme ca. If you’re a linguistics geek or language lover with a curiosity about the origins of foreign words and phrases, you need this beautifully designed reference that includes approximately 1,000 foreign phrases in languages that run the gamut from French to German to Japanese, Arabic, Sanskrit, and more.

Entries offer precise translations, surprising origins, and commonly used terms you didn’t even know were foreign. (You may even find a phrase or two that you’ve been using incorrectly!) Also included are phonetic pronunciations and sidebars that explore the quirks of some favorite expressions.

Don’t suffer one more trip to the museum asking yourself, “What the heck is trompe l’oeil?” Don’t put down yet another Umberto Eco novel out of sheer confusion. And avoid tumbling into the camp of declasse—instead, become one of the intelligentsia! This handy guide will make you a true cognoscente of culture.

Praise for Laura Lee

“Lee’s dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion . . . She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.” —San Francisco Chronicle