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contretemps

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia 0.02 sec.
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.

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

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]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.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

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 plZwischenfall m; (= unexpected hitch also)kleines Missgeschick
contretemps [ˈkɒntrəˌtɔŋ] ncontrattempo
contretemps [ˈkɒntrəˌtɔŋ] ncontrattempo


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
This little domestic contretemps -is then, I presume, disagreeable to you
I cannot pretend to recount all that he told me, but I gleaned from what he said that he was the genius who presided over the contretemps of mankind, and whose business it was to bring about the odd accidents which are continually astonishing the skeptic.
The son, who took every little contretemps as if it were a tragedy, was listening also.
 
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