Snob Words: Making Sense of Words You Wish You Knew, But Don't



Snob words are lexical aristocrats, highfalutin' words and phrases--often derived from foreign languages--that never appear on sixth-grade spelling tests. They're words you don't know, but feel you should know.

And because you don't know them, you often feel excluded.

For example, when Architectural Digest reveals that the actress of the moment has just installed an étagère in her pied-á-terre--and you're left racing to find a French dictionary app--you're a victim of snob words. Those fortunate enough to know the terms are in on the secret, while you're left standing behind the red velvet rope.

This blog is an attempt to demystify snob words, which show up frequently in publications that cater to well educated, upscale readers.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

gouache (GWAHSH)

     Unless you're an artist, you've probably seen the term gouache at least a hundred times in print or in art galleries,  but you've never understood exactly what it meant.  Allow me to enlighten you.
     Gouache is a paint made by mixing watercolor pigments with white paint or glue.  While watercolor is transparent, making it difficult to correct mistakes, gouache is opaque enough to cover underlying paint.
     Poster paint—that chalky powder you mix with water to make banners for school or church events—is a form of gouache.  


Pablo Picasso, Boy with a Dog, 1905.
Gouache on cardboard.
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