Though technically cheating, as this is a French term, but so are half of Englishs other common phrases they have a certain je ne sais quoi so onto this delightful phrase: lesprit descalier, literally staircase wit, refers to that endlessly frustrating predicament of having thought of the perfect retort after the argument is done. It happens far too frequently; we get flustered and sputter at our opponent, and then, three hours later in the shower, we come up with a smooth and incredibly witty rejoinder that would have been the perfect finisher to the argument. The term itself comes from French philosopher Denis Diderot, who described a scenario where a man becomes overwhelmed by an argument and can only think clearly au bas de lescalier, or at the bottom of the stairs, after having left the gathering. Any strange and wonderful words that you can think of? Any that should definitely have been showcased here? Let us know in the comments below!
Canadian student. Spends probably an unhealthy amount of time enthusing over musicals, unpopular TV shows, and Harry Potter. Main life goal: to become fluent in Elvish.
