Feb 01 2004
Foreign Phrases
These are the winners of a New York magazine contest in which contestants were to take a well-known _expression in a foreign language, change a single letter, and provide a definition for the new _expression.
HARLEY-VOUS FRANCAIS
Can you drive a French motorcycle
EX POST FUCTO
Lost in the mail
VENI, VIPI, VICI
I came, I’m a very important person, I conquered
COGITO EGGO SUM
I think, therefore I waffle
RIGOR MORRIS
The cat is dead
RESPONDEZ S’IL VOUS PLAID
Honk if you’re Scottish
QUE SERA SERF
Life is feudal
LE ROI EST MORT. JIVE LE ROI
The king is dead. No kidding.
PRO BOZO PUBLICO
Support your local clown
MONAGE A TROIS
I am three years old
FELIX NAVIDAD
Our cat has a boat
HASTE CCUISINE
Fast French food
VENI, VIDI, VICE
I came, I saw, I partied
QUIP PRO QUO
Fast retort
ALOHA OY
Love; greetings; farewell; from such a pain you would never know
VISA LA FRANCE
Don’t leave your chateau without it
AMICUS PURIAE
Platonic friend
L’ETAT, C’EST MOO
I’m bossy around here
COGITO, ERGO, SPUD
I think, therefore I yam (OK, more than one letter)
VENI, VIDI, VELCRO
I came, I saw, I stuck around (OK, another exception)
ICH BIT EIN BERLINER
He deserved it
ZEITGEIST
The Clearasil doesn’t quite cover it up.
E PLURIBUS ANUM
Out of any group, there’s always one asshole