Re: Vis-à-vis

Posted by R. Berg on November 20, 2001

In Reply to: Re: French? posted by Bob on November 19, 2001

: : "Vis a vis" I think it's a French phrase. But I've heard Americans use it many times.

: Literally French. "Face to face." That is, directly compared with.

: But... in such widespread use in English-speaking countries, for so long... when is it no longer French? This phrase would be on the cusp of adoption. I suspect in 40 or 50 years, it will be English.

It wasn't marked as foreign in Webster's Second Unabridged .

• Re: Vis-à-vis Bob 11/20/01
  • Re: Vis-à-vis R. Berg 11/20/01

See also - other French phrases in English.