Savoir faire.

Started by PeterR, October 22, 2014, 04:01:01 PM

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PeterR


A group of American tourists in Paris are sitting at a table at an outdoor café discussing the nuances of the French language.

At one moment they were discussing the true meaning of the word savoir faire and mutually agreed they were at an impasse.

They saw three Frenchmen coming down the street and decided to ask them for their, supposedly correct, definition.

The first Frenchman said, "I will explain by example.  Suppose ze husband comes home early from ze work.  He opens his bedroom door and discovers his wife and a stranger making passionate love together – in his bed!  If ze husband can say 'Pardonnez moi', this shows he possesses savoir faire."     

The second Frenchman agrees, but doesn't believe his friend's example goes far enough to illustrate the finer nuances of the word.  "As my friend has suggested, suppose ze husband comes home early from ze work.  He opens his bedroom door and discovers his wife and a stranger making passionate love together – in his bed!  If ze husband can say 'Pardonnez moi - continue', and backs from the room, this shows he possesses savoir faire."       

The third Frenchman shows a slightly sour face.  "To a point," he says. "To use the example my friends have chosen, ze husband comes home early from ze work.  He opens his bedroom door and discovers his wife and a stranger making passionate love together – in his bed!  If ze husband can say 'Pardonnez moi - continue', and, the stranger continues ... ah ha ...then HE has savoir faire!"   


"He was born with the gift of laughter and the sense that the world was mad."