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.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

comme il faut (kuh΄-meal-FOE΄)

Click for pronunciation

     Comme il faut is French for "as it should be."  If something is comme il faut, it is proper and conforms to accepted standards.

      "The CFO told me Baker will be fired before next quarter.  It seems the auditors found that things were not comme il faut with his division."  

      A 2010 post on Newsweek's The Daily Beast (the dailybeast.com) used the term in a 2010 post entitled "The 10 Rules of Kissing Hello."

      "Do make sure there’s physical contact. Kissing thin air is not comme il faut, especially among Europeans.  “Air kisses look and feel disingenuous,” said Post.

 See article


The beach house--which the travel agent had
described as "luxurious"--was not comme il faut.
© Jsompinm | Stock Free Images

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