Monday, March 3, 2025

Word of the Day: Esprit de l'escalier

Monday, March 3, 2025

Today's Word Brought to You By

noun

1. Used to refer to the fact that a witty remark or retort often comes to mind after the opportunity to make it has passed.

Today's Word Brought to You By

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"I blanked on a response to the final question in the job interview, but I felt a rush of esprit de l'escalier on the drive home."

"Esprit de l'escalier always hits me about 15 minutes too late to give that perfect snappy comeback."

"The feeling of esprit de l'escalier woke me up at 3 a.m. as I came up with the retort I always wanted to give to my ex-boyfriend."

French, early 20th century

It's often joked that the Germans have a word for everything, but in this case, the perfectly apt term comes from the French. "Esprit de l'escalier" translates literally as "wit of the staircase," describing a witty remark that comes to mind as one is on the staircase to leave. ...