. The dessert, unfortunately, was unpeckable. Or do I mean unspeakable? Impeachable?


This translation problem reminds me of the story of the French Ambassador in the late C19 who was trying to explain to the British Foreign Minister that his (the Ambassador's) wife was unable to have children, but couldn't think of the correct English word. His aides came to his aid - the first said, "His Excellency is trying to say that his wife is impregnable." The second, sensing that this was not quite le mot juste, said, "No, he means she is unbearable." The third, seeing the look of incomprehension on the Foreign Minster's face, exclaimed, "Ah, non! She is inconceivable."