Commonly Used Non-English Phrases 

De Facto

• Meaning: In fact; in practice; existing in reality, whether by right or not. Often contrasted with de jure (by law).

• Examples:

  • "Although the country had a president, the military general held de facto power."

  • "English has become the de facto international language for air traffic control."

  • "After years of living together, they were a de facto married couple."

Quid Pro Quo

• Meaning: Something for something; an exchange of goods or services, where one transfer is contingent upon the other. A favor for a favor.

• Examples:

  • "The trade deal involved a quid pro quo: lower tariffs for agricultural products in exchange for access to the technology market."

  • "The prosecutor offered a quid pro quo to the informant: reduced sentence for testimony."

  • "In many negotiations, there's an unspoken quid pro quo where each side expects something in return for their concessions."

Ad Hoc

• Meaning: For this specific purpose; formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only. Often implies something temporary or improvised.

• Examples:

  • "They formed an ad hoc committee to address the immediate crisis."

  • "The software patch was an ad hoc solution to the unexpected bug."

  • "We had to come up with an ad hoc plan when the original venue became unavailable."

Status Quo

• Meaning: The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.

• Examples:

  • "Many people are resistant to change and prefer to maintain the status quo."

  • "The protest aimed to disrupt the status quo and bring about significant reforms."

  • "After the merger, there was a strong desire to preserve the company's creative status quo."

Per Se

• Meaning: By or in itself; intrinsically; essentially.

• Examples:

  • "His statement wasn't rude per se, but the tone implied disrespect."

  • "Being wealthy isn't a problem per se, but the way some people acquire it can be."

  • "The drug isn't addictive per se, but it can lead to psychological dependence."

E.g. (exempli gratia)

• Meaning: For example. Used to introduce one or more examples.

• Examples:

  • "I enjoy various outdoor activities, e.g., hiking, kayaking, and cycling."

  • "Many fruits are high in Vitamin C, e.g., oranges, kiwis, and strawberries."

  • "Please bring essential camping gear, e.g., a tent, sleeping bag, and flashlight."

I.e. (id est)

• Meaning: That is; in other words. Used to clarify or rephrase something previously stated.

• Examples:

  • "The final deadline is tomorrow, i.e., June 25th."

  • "He is a polyglot, i.e., he speaks many languages."

  • "The car's engine seized up, i.e., it stopped working completely."

Et Cetera (etc.)

• Meaning: And so on; and other things; and the rest. Used to indicate that a list continues in a similar way.

• Examples:

  • "Please pick up milk, bread, eggs, etc., from the grocery store."

  • "The job requires skills in coding, debugging, project management, etc."

  • "We discussed their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, etc."

Bona Fide

• Meaning: In good faith; genuine; sincere; legitimate.

• Examples:

  • "Only bona fide students are eligible for this discount."

  • "He made a bona fide offer to buy the company."

  • "The antique dealer assured us that the vase was bona fide."

Caveat Emptor

• Meaning: Let the buyer beware. The principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase.

• Examples:

  • "When buying used electronics, it's a case of caveat emptor."

  • "The auction house operates under the rule of caveat emptor; all sales are final."

  • "The legal principle of caveat emptor puts the onus on the purchaser to perform due diligence."

Pro Bono

• Meaning: For the public good. Done for free, especially legal work, by a professional.

• Examples:

  • "The lawyer took on the challenging case pro bono to help the underprivileged family."

  • "Many doctors dedicate some time to pro bono work at free clinics."

  • "Our firm provides pro bono legal services to non-profit organizations."

Alma Mater

• Meaning: Literally "nurturing mother." The university, college, or school that one formerly attended.

• Examples:

  • "She frequently donates to her alma mater to support future generations of students."

  • "The alumni reunion was a great chance to reconnect with friends from our alma mater."

  • "He wore his alma mater's sweatshirt with pride."

Vise Versa

• Meaning: The other way around; conversely.

• Examples:

  • "You can take the bus to the train station, or vice versa."

  • "Sometimes the students teach the teachers, and vice versa."

  • "I find that working from home can be more productive than the office, and vice versa depending on the task."

Faux Pas

• Meaning: An embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation; a social blunder. (French, literally "false step").

• Examples:

  • "Wearing casual clothes to the formal dinner was a major faux pas."

  • "He committed a social faux pas by asking about her weight."

  • "In some cultures, refusing a gift is considered a serious faux pas."

Ipso Facto

• Meaning: By the fact itself; by the very nature of the deed.

• Examples:

  • "A fraudulent contract is ipso facto invalid."

  • "By rejecting the terms, he had, ipso facto, terminated the agreement."

  • "Anyone who breaches the rules is ipso facto ineligible for the prize."

Non Sequitur

• Meaning: It does not follow. A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

• Examples:

  • "Her sudden comment about kangaroos was a complete non sequitur in our discussion about economics."

  • "His argument was full of non sequiturs, making it impossible to follow his reasoning."

  • "The comedian's humor often relied on clever non sequiturs."

Tabula Rasa

• Meaning: Blank slate. The theory that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that therefore all knowledge comes from experience or perception.

• Examples:

  • "Some educational philosophies treat a child's mind as a tabula rasa."

  • "After the company's restructuring, they decided to approach the new project with a tabula rasa, starting completely fresh."

  • "He moved to a new city, hoping for a tabula rasa and a fresh start."

En Masse

• Meaning: In a group; all together. (French)

• Examples:

  • "The protestors arrived en masse, filling the entire square."

  • "When the bell rang, the students left the classroom en masse."

  • "The birds took flight en masse at the sound of the approaching storm."

Carte Blanche

• Meaning: Full discretionary power; literally "blank card." (French)

• Examples:

  • "The new director was given carte blanche to overhaul the entire department."

  • "The designer had carte blanche to decorate the mansion as she saw fit."

  • "My boss gave me carte blanche on this project, so I can try anything."

Déjà Vu

• Meaning: Already seen. The feeling of having already experienced the present situation. (French)

• Examples:

  • "Walking into the old house, I had a strong sense of déjà vu, even though I'd never been there before."

  • "The plot of the new movie gave me déjà vu; it felt very similar to a classic film."

  • "Every time I hear that song, I get a strange feeling of déjà vu."