French words
elegant, fashionable, stylish
chic
ruined, broken, used particularly of something that has broken down because it is old or has outlived its usefulness - anything from an IT system to a political one
kaput
an enthusiast, particularly a sports fan
aficionado
in disguise, under an assumed name and probably wearing dark glasses: the way a famous person or spy travels if he doesn't want to be recognized
incognito
a lively dance, originating in Poland and named after the province of Mazur or Mazovia
mazurka
an expert, one with specialist knowledge - especially of food, wine or the arts
connoisseur
cheap and tasteless
kitsch
isolated, deprived of communication
incommunicado
liveliness (in music)
brio
having the flavour of lots of different fruits
tutti-frutti
unconcerned
nonchalant
an outlying area
hinterland
a group in power, particularly a small group that has come to power after a coup
junta
an independent judge appointed to arbitrate on matters where two parties (management and trade union, for example) have failed to reach an agreement
ombudsman
a long-standing enemy, opponent, or rival that someone has grave difficulty facing and overcoming.
nemesis
an emotional bond between two or more people
rapport
a lookalike
doppelganger
an open area or a courtyard attached to a house
patio
a punishment
gauntlet
confusion, the sort caused by a mass of objects spinning about
maelstrom
a disaster, a complete failure or collapse
debacle
the attitudes of a certain time
zeitgeist
a small fault
peccadillo
arrogance, the sort of pride that comes before a fall
hubris
those in the know, particularly those who are well informed about one of the arts
cognoscenti