Sunday Word: Esprit de l'escalier

[sallymn]

esprit de l'escalier [es-pree duh le-skahl-yey]

noun:
a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed

Examples:

Your esprit de l'escalier doesn't kick in until you're well out the door. (Lauren Collins, Sally Rooney Gets in Your Head, The New Yorker, December 2018)

Here's an

Comments

[spikesgirl58]

Is that what it's called. I am always doing this.

[sallymn]

Oh me too, and I am so happy to know that it's common enough to have a phrase to describe it! (I try to remember and write down my best ones in case I can use them later in writing... I don't often but still, it makes me feel less foolish.)

[adafrog]

OMG, this happens so much.

[sallymn]

I'm not the only one, and that makes me feel better :)