Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BILLET DOUX

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explore the archives: Today's billet doux is a jocular term: one that we use to be playful and funny, like when you say old-fan____ instead of "old-fashioned," pan_______ instead of "boastful, pompous person," or rap________ instead of "punk kid." make your point with... "BILLET DOUX" French for "sweet note," a billet doux is a love letter, either literally or figuratively. (A figurative billet doux is anything that reveals love and devotion.) Pronunciation: How relaxed are your French vowels? You might say "bih LEH doo" or "bee LAY doo." Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about one billet doux or multiple billets doux.) Other forms: Just the plural: "billets doux." Say "bih LEH dooze" or "bee LAY dooze." How to use it: This term is a playful one, great for both silliness and sarcasm. So, as you're trashing your junk mail: "I simply don't have time to read all these billets doux." And as you're noting some mean-spirited vandalism: "What a thoughtful billet doux." (Sure, you could use "billet doux" to be serious if you want, but I don't recommend it; you might sound stuffy or ridiculous. You'll probably only find serious examples of this term in historical contexts.) You might talk about someone's billet doux to someone or something (or someone writing, sending, or offering a billet doux to someone): "Her autobiography is one long, heartfelt billet doux to herself." Some people prefer a hyphen: "billet-doux." In older texts, you'll see it italicized (billet-doux) to show its foreignness. But now, because we've used the word in English for hundreds of years, we don't use the italics anymore. examples: We used to have gentleman callers and billets doux; now we have Tinder. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" is as much a billet doux to life in the country as it is to country music itself. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "billet doux" means when you can explain it without saying "sweet note" or "romantic letter." try it out: Think of something that's too complimentary or enthusiastic about its subject. It might be a song, a book, an advertisement, a DVD commentary, or an online review. Fill in the blanks: "_____ is/was a billet doux to _____." Example: "The first review was an exquisitely worded billet doux to the product. Hmm, that's not at all suspicious." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.  Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus. The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy! From yesterday: To make space for a new exhibit, a science museum needs to get rid of an existing one. The prime target is a cute but educationally useless life-sized display of a guy frolicking with sea otters. That exhibit is the ___ ___ _____ ______ ______. (Five words: the first two words have one syllable each, and the last three words have two syllables each. Clue: use this term.) Answer: man and otter cannon fodder. Try this today: On Reddit, the "petty revenge" forum is where you share stories about silly little things you did to get back at people for their equally tiny offenses. ("Oh, you want to be rude? Enjoy your longer-than-necessary wait time.") These are tales of ___________ ___________. (Two words of four syllables each. Clue: use this word.) review today's word: 1. The opposite of BILLET DOUX is A. FAN MAIL B. HATE MAIL C. THANK-YOU LETTER 2. I see _____ as a bundle of little billets doux. A. the pale, dried-out, picked-over vegetables at the store B. the claw marks all up and down my jeans from the kitten C. the hoops I have to jump through just to log in to my account Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B