Tuesday, March 31, 2009

contretemps \KAHN-truh-tahn\, noun; plural contretemps \-tahnz\:

• An inopportune or embarrassing situation or event; a hitch.

Contretemps comes from French, from contre, "against" (from Latin contra) + temps, "time" (from Latin tempus).

It is what it is

• Used often in the business world, this incredibly versatile phrase can be literally translated as "fuck it."

The client changed the deadline to today? Well, it is what it is.
Trivia

When it comes to doctors’ prescriptions, what is the meaning of the abbreviation q.i.d.? How about a.c.?

• The abbreviation q.i.d., for the Latin quater in die, means “four times a day”; a.c., the abbreviation of ante cibum, means “before meals.”

Today in History:

• Alhambra Decree: was signed, giving Spain's Jews four months to convert or face expulsion (1492)
• Eiffel Tower: was dedicated in Paris; designed by bridge engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the open-lattice wrought iron masterpiece was the tallest structure in the world at the time (1889)
• Daylight Savings Time: was instituted in the US for the first time (1918)
• Dalai Lama: Tibetan spiritual and political leader went into exile and was granted asylum in India (1959)

Today's Birthdays:

• René Descartes (1596-1650): French philosopher who posited, "cogito ergo sum" — "I think, therefore I am"
• Cesar Chavez (1927-1993): UFW's founder and director who spearheaded migrant worker boycotts of grapes and lettuce
• Gordie Howe (81): champion ice hockey forward
• Christopher Walken (66): actor, The Deer Hunter, Hairspray; other actors born on this date include William Daniels (82), Richard Chamberlain (75), Rhea Perlman (61) and Ewan McGregor (38)