Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TOUR DE FORCE

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connect today's word to others: A tour de force has nothing to do with going on a tour, or being a tourist. :) That word "tour" in French can also mean "turn," which is more like "feat" or "accomplishment." So, a tour de force is a feat of strength, a powerful accomplishment. See if you can recall this related two-word term: French for "superior strength" or "superior force," a f_____ m_______ is a powerful, uncontrollable event that messes up our plans. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "TOUR DE FORCE" We took this term from French:    the "tour" part means "turn or feat (accomplishment);"    the "de" part means "of;"    and the "force" part does mean "force," or "strength." So, a tour de force is a feat of strength, or in other words, a very smart, skillful, powerful, masterful, or amazing creation or accomplishment. Pronunciation: TOOR duh FORCE 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 tour de force or multiple tours de force.) Other forms: The plural noun is "tours de force," said "TOORZ duh FORCE." We can use "tour de force" loosely like an adjective: "a tour de force rendition," "their tour de force collection." How to use it: Whatever took extraordinary skill, strength, and power to accomplish can be called a tour de force. Of course, dropping "tour de force" into your sentence is like lighting a firecracker; the term calls attention to itself and practically sparkles with its intense tone and meaning. And I'd say the term is overused by book critics and movie critics: they seem to always be calling a book a tour de force, or calling a movie a tour de force. But I'm not a book or movie critic, so what I do know? :) Maybe all those works really do deserve the label. Aside from books and movies, what else can be tours de force? Meals and restaurants, songs and works of art, concerts and other performances, etc. Although we most often say that something is a tour de force, you might also say that someone expresses or accomplishes something by or with a tour de force. Occasionally, to specify what kind of tour de force we're talking about, we'll either add an adjective ("a fashion tour de force," "a country-rock tour de force"), or we'll add "of" ("a tour de force of comedy," "a tour de force of biology," "a tour de force of the human spirit"). examples: Back when I would read a story for the plot and nothing else, I failed to recognize The Old Man and the Sea for the tour de force it is--to me it was a tedious tale of a guy going fishing. An Elton John concert is a heart-pounding night of energy, excitement, showmanship, of Elton's voice resounding through the stadium with depth and beauty, of thousands of fans shouting and clapping in unison--more than just an emotional experience, it's a tour de force. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "tour de force" means when you can explain it without saying "masterpiece" or "grand achievement." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Every (part of some person's creative work) is (strong, dazzling, or masterful), but (his/her) real tour de force is _____." Example: "Every song on the Idler Wheel album is strong, but her real tour de force is 'Hot Knife.'" 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 The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. It's a collection of silly, sarcastic, satirical definitions of everyday words, and--lucky us!--it's in the public domain. In each issue this month, I'll give you one of Bierce's definitions and, if it's a tough one, I'll give you the word's first letter. And you try to come up with the word. From our previous issue: Bierce defines it as "[someone] skilled in circumvention of the law." It's a noun. It starts with L. What is it? Answer: Lawyer. Try this today: Bierce defines it as "a period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments." It's a noun. What is it? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of TOUR DE FORCE is A. BRIEF STAY B. MINOR STUNT C. LOSS OF ENERGY 2. The Fyre Festival, _____ tour de force of music and luxury, was actually _____. A. hyped as a .. a logistical catastrophe B. planned as a .. located all in one facility C. a typical .. an embarrassing disappointment Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. A