esprit de l'escalier
/ɛˌspriː də lɛˈskaljeɪ
/ /ɛspʀi də lɛskalje/noun [mass noun]
Used to refer to the fact that a witty remark or retort often comes to mind after the opportunity to make it has passed.I am frequently afflicted with esprit de l'escalier....
- Now if I'd managed to say all that off the cuff then I would be a genius comedian, but as it was I had to make do with experiencing esprit de l'escalier on the way home.
Origin
French, literally 'wit of the staircase' (i.e. a witty remark coming to mind on the stairs leading away from a gathering).
- ground clearance
- ground cloth
- groundcloth
- ground clutter
- ground control
- ground controller
- ground cover
- ground crew
- ground dove
- ground down
- ground effect
- ground elder
- grounder
- ground floor
- ground forces
- ground frost
- ground game
- ground glass
- groundhog
- Groundhog Day
- groundhopper
- ground-in
- grounding
- grounding wire
- ground ivy