Foreign Expressions and Phrases

Bête noire is French for 'black beast,' referring to something or someone one strongly dislikes, fears, or avoids. Option A incorrectly suggests a new person, while C and D describe unrelated concepts. The term expresses personal aversion or dread.

The foreign expression Espirit de corps translates literally from French as the spirit of a body, denoting a feeling of fellowship, loyalty, and devotion uniting the members of a group. Camaraderie is the exact synonym for this sense of shared common purpose and mutual trust. The other options refer to high-end social circles, beauty, or skill.

Dernier cri is French for 'latest cry' or 'latest scream,' metaphorically meaning the newest fashion or trend. Options A and B describe negative experiences unrelated to fashion, while D suggests a tedious ongoing task rather than something new and current.

Zeitgeist is German for 'spirit of the times,' referring to the defining mood, intellectual climate, or cultural atmosphere of a particular era. Option A incorrectly limits it to youth, while C suggests a literal spirit. Option D captures the broader concept of prevailing thought patterns.

Haut monde is French for 'high world,' referring to the upper classes, aristocracy, or fashionable elite society. Option A correctly identifies this social stratification, while options C and D describe unrelated groups. The term specifically denotes wealthy, sophisticated social circles.

Blitzkrieg is German for 'lightning war,' describing a rapid, intensive military attack strategy using overwhelming force to achieve quick victory. Option B correctly captures this concept, while options A and C are too general, and D incorrectly shifts to emotional rather than military context.

Sang-froid is French for 'cold blood,' meaning composure, coolness, or mental calmness under pressure or in difficult situations. Option B correctly identifies this quality, while options A and C are different concepts entirely. Option D incorrectly interprets 'cold' as emotional coldness rather than calm.

Kamikaze is Japanese for 'divine wind,' referring to suicide attacks, particularly the World War II Japanese pilots who crashed planes into targets. Option B correctly captures the suicidal nature, while option A refers only to ritual suicide without the attack component. Options C and D are metaphorical uses, not the primary meaning.

 Hors de combat is from French and means taken out of the fight.

Glasnost is a Russian term meaning openness, transparency, or public voice. The closest option is D (open voice), though the standard translation would be 'openness' or 'publicity'.

Gulag refers to the Soviet government agency that administered forced labor camps, or the camps themselves. The term has become synonymous with Soviet prison camps where political prisoners and others were held under harsh conditions.

Éclat is a French term meaning brilliant display, dazzling effect, or brilliance/ distinction. It describes something impressive or showy in quality or style.

Chutzpah is a Yiddish term meaning extreme audacity, gall, or shameless boldness. It describes behavior that is shockingly brazen or disrespectful of social norms.

Braggadocio means boastful or arrogant talk/behavior; empty boasting. It comes from the name of a boastful character in Spenser's 'The Faerie Queene'.

Aficionado is a Spanish term meaning a devotee, enthusiast, or knowledgeable follower of a particular activity (especially bullfighting) or subject.