contretemps

con·tre·temps  (kntr-tä, kôtr-tä)

n. pl. contretemps (-täz, -täz)

An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.

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[French : contre-, against (from Latin contr-; see contra-) + temps, time (from Latin tempus).]

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contretemps [ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn (French) kɔ̃trətɑ̃]

n pl -temps

1. an awkward or difficult situation or mishap

2. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Fencing) Fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent

3. a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing

[from French, from contre against + temps time, from Latin tempus]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

contretemps - an awkward clash; "he tried to smooth over his contretemps with the policeman" encounter, skirmish, clash, brush - a minor short-term fight plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one

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contretemps

noun

1. argument, disagreement, quarrel, row, clash, dispute, controversy, falling out (informal), barney (informal), squabble, wrangle, bickering, difference of opinion, fight, altercation There had been a slight contretemps over who was to drive the car.

2. mishap, mistake, difficulty, accident, misfortune, uphill (S. African), predicament, calamity His cross-country tour had its full share of comic contretemps.

Translations

contretemps [ˈkɒntrətɒm] N (contretemps (pl)) → contratiempo m, revés m

contretemps

n no pl → Zwischenfall m; (= unexpected hitch also) → kleines Missgeschick

contretemps [ˈkɒntrəˌtɔŋ] n → contrattempo