We understood what l’esprit d’escalier was at school, before we learned much French, because of Michael’s socks.
In the changing room after our latest medley of athletic mediocrity, they were criticised by someone who knew better than us (back then, that could have been anyone).
“Your socks are square.”
The retort came to Michael as we unlocked our bikes, our lessons over: They’re not square, they’re sock-shaped.
He was so proud, we couldn’t bear to tell him it wasn’t very good.
The French have no phrase for a disappointing comeback after the event, but we did, because of Michael’s socks.
Train Aria - A Story
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Dressed, head to foot, in grey jersey cotton, she sticks out like a sore
thumb on the early commuter train. Jogging pants are not De Rigeur for most
of...
2 weeks ago
Posts
9 comments:
One of my favourite phrases, nicely encaptured. The only problem with the phrase is that I always have to explain what it means - at least to Americans.
Not getting much chance to comment at the mo what with other commitments, but just had to say I liked that a lot.
I used to try and plan my comebacks in advance, but just tended to end up shouting non sequiturs at bemused victims.
My favorite French term...
"...they're sock-shaped." I can think of one or two retorts I made, and several I thought up later, that were equally lame. But I was proud of them at the time, and I just know how pleased your friend was. Nice of you not to tell him the truth.
I think these circular posts, that finish back at the place they began suit this small format, and see it's a device you've used very well a few times this week. It serves to frame the little detail at the centre of each piece, and here that detail pleases. I confess that I didn't know the phrase myself, although I chose art over languages. My socks, for the most part of junior and secondary school, were white, topped with sporty red and blue hoops, and occasionally tarnished with the sienna-hued burn marks that came from my mother's misadventures at attempting to speed-dry in front of the 4-bar electrical fire.
I got a good chuckle out of this one. And I didn't think his retort was too bad, especially coming from one who cannot even manage a good comeback on the escaliers.
A real-time retort rarely lands with the precision and accuracy that the mental one you come up with later would have.
I've always thought it would be satisfying to give the better-crafted, belated retort anyway at the first chance, even if totally out of context.
Of course, personal statisfaction may not make up for public eccentricities...but it might.
Shundo – Really? I’m surprised Americans don’t get this, I thought it would be like Schadenfreude, one of those concepts that transcends language.
The Jules – That’s okay, I know you have lots on. I’m glad you particularly liked this one, I can see it might be your sort of thing!
Robbie – I have so many, I’m looking forward to trying them out when I go to Paris next month.
Blissed-Out Grandma – When you’re at school and not cool, ignorance is as close to bliss as you’re going to get.
Matt – Yes, I have used it twice this week, which is odd because I don’t think I’d ever used it on a 100 Word post before. I like it but I wouldn’t want to overuse it, or any other stylistic trick. My school uniform was a loathsome bottle green, though as I recall fluorescent towelling socks came in around that time too.
Lady Jennie – I still see him from time to time, I’ll let him know.
Nari – Sadly, you can never go back. “Remember that conversation we had last week? Well, what I should have said was…”
I would argue that Americans get the concept certainly...there was an entire Seinfeld episode dedicated to it for goodness sake. :) But it is true that most Americans know zero French! I have never heard the phrase before. I think we would just call it an unfortunate, delayed comeback. Certainly not as poetic nor as aristocratic sounding as the French version.
I have done this exercise in writer's workshops before and am always surprised by how much can be said in so few words. Nicely done!
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