Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SANG-FROID

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"SANG-FROID" Meaning: When you have sang-froid, or when you do something with sang-froid, it means you're being indifferent in a cool, detached, unemotional way. Pronunciation: song FRWAH Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like “milk,” “rice,” and “education,” uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about “some milk,” “the rice,” and “a lot of education,” but you don’t say “a milk,” “three rices,” or “many educations.” Likewise, talk about “the sang-froid,” “such sang-froid,” “a lot of sang-froid,” “no sang-froid,” and so on, but don’t say “sang-froids.”) Other forms: none How to use it: Although this term is French for "cold blood," it doesn't mean cold-hearted or cold-blooded, as in "a cold-blooded killer." Having sang-froid is more about having nonchalance and showing no emotions: no excitement, and no anger. So, talk about the sang-froid of someone or someone's sang-froid: "The judges couldn't stop commenting on his sang-froid at the international competition." You might say that someone's actions or behaviors have or show sang-froid, too: "The judges were impressed with the sang-froid of his performance." Or, talk about someone doing something with sang-froid: "He performed with his usual sang-froid, unsettling his sweating opponents."  Also, something might undermine your sang-froid, threaten your sang-froid, make you lose your sang-froid, etc. It takes me awhile to regain my sang-froid after a conflict. I keep focusing on how it could have gone smoother. Movies about middle school and high school do a good job of preparing kids to be hated or worshiped, but the films don't really prepare kids for the chill of their peers' sang-froid. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "sang-froid" means when you can explain it without saying "cool composure" or "unemotional appearance." Think of something stressful you've experienced, and fill in the blank: "_____ really tested my sang-froid." Example: "The pointed questions after my presentation about why I didn't mention this and that really tested my sang-froid." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're playing New Word Order! It's a card game that I recently created; it involves figuring out the order in which certain words and phrases entered our language. I'll give you several words and/or phrases, and you'll use your knowledge of history, slang, technology, popular culture, fashion, psychology, etc. to put them into chronological order. I'll post the right answer to each question on the following day. If you like this game, you can download and print it to play with your family and friends. (It's free.) When you play New Word Order on hard mode with a group of friends, you make one big timeline together, which can get pretty long—and that makes it challenging to place new terms on it! For about the final third of this month, we’re building one big timeline. (And we’ll finish out the month—the 28th through the 30th— with three unique and highly challenging questions.) Yesterday's task was to place "parallel parking" and "pimped-out" in the correct order. Answer: Parallel parking, 1962 Pimped-out, 1988 Today, add this term to the timeline above: "brainwashing." Special preview of next month's game: In December, we'll be sampling questions from Orijinz, an awesome series of games about words, phrases, and quotes. Click here or on the logo below if you want to go ahead and check them out! A Point Well Made: Emily Brontë: “A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself.” 1. The opposite of SANG-FROID is A. VENALITY B. VALOR C. VEHEMENCE 2. I tried to approach the problem with the sang-froid of a _____. A. soccer player B. poker player C. saxophone player Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. C 2. B Exploring the archives: Recently, a reader mentioned to me that he adopted "sang-froid" as part of his username online, since he liked the idea it conveys about his personality--he's chill even in stressful situations.  If your username included one of the following other complimentary words, what would that say about your personality? Éclat, halcyon, or jovial.