Wordsmith.org
Posted By: wwh contretemps - 09/21/03 06:37 PM
The Cardinal was on thorns. Everybody was staring and listening. For two whole days had his Eminence been doing his utmost to lick these Flemish bears into shape in order to make them somewhat presentable in public—this contretemps was a rude shock.

Contretemps means a social error.

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