English language is very rich in idioms and phrases. Yet sometime one finds foreign expression in English which have Greek. Latin, German or French origin, students preparing for competitive examination (and even general readers) must know the meaning and use of these foreign expressions. Here we give certain much used foreign expression.

1. Ad hoc (workable, temporary)
An ad hoc committee has been set up to work until the regular committee is formed.

2. Ad antique (from ancient times)
The people of this region have been God-fearing ad antique.

3. Ad infinitim (for ever)
It appears that the practice of idol worship will continue in India ad infinitum.

4. Ad interim (in between)
The government is trying to rehabilitate flood-victims but it should also give some aid ad interim.

5. Almamater (the institution where is educated)
Everybody has great admiration for his almamater.

6. Alumni (old students of an institution)
We are the alumni of the Government College, Lahore.

7. Alpha and omega (from beginning to end)
The alpha and omega of a patriot’s life is the preservation of the freedom of his country.

8. Alter ego (a very close friend)
Abdur Rab Nishter was the alter ego of the Quaid-e-Azam.

9. Ad verbum (word for word)
A true student tires to assimilate the ideas of his teacher ad verbum.

10. Annusmirabilis (a year of wonderful events)
1999 was an annusmirabilis in world history.

11. Agent provocateurs (culprits in disguise)
Many policemen are agent provocateurs.

12. Bonafide (genuine)
He is a bonafide student of this college.

13. Coup d’etat (The change of government by rebellion)
Coup d’etat has been a common phenomenon in Pakistan.

14. Carte blanche (full freedom)
The carte blanche given by the people of Pakistan to its rulers has always been misused.

15. Charge d’affairs (one acting as an ambassador)
Mr Shahid Malik is our charge d’affairs in India.

16. De jure (true or right because of a law)
Politicians are the de jure leaders of men.

17. De facto (really)
America rules de facto over Pakistan.

18. De novo (afresh)
Forget the past and start your life de novo.

19. Dramatis personae (characters in a play)
One must acquaint oneself with the dramatis personae in a play to understand it properly.



20. En bloc (in a body)
All the teachers went on a strike en bloc.

21. En route (on way)
I met my old friend en route to Italy.

22. Ex officio (by virtue of one’s office)
The Pro Vice-Chancellor is a member of the syndicate ex officio.

23. Ex parte (one-sided)
If one party does not turn up in the court, the judge gives his judgment ex parte.

24. Fait accompli (a work surely done)
Now his dismissal is a fait accompli.

25. Ipso facto (really)
The president is ipso facto the ruler of this country.

26. In camera (confidentially)
The trial was held in camera.

27. Laissez-faire (The state of being as it is)
Our economy has not come out of its laissez-faire condition.

28. Linguafranca (The language of the masses)
Urdu is the linguafranca of Pakistan.

29. Par excellence (superb)
Mehdi Hassan is a singer par excellence.

30. Prima facie (at the appearance)
Prima facie, you are a defaulter.

31. Locus standi (a right to participate in a process)
Unless I have a locus standi, I cannot give my opinion in this matter.

32. Magnum opus (the best work)
War and peace is the magnum opus of Tolstoy.

33. Modus operandi (the mode of working)
The police tries to assess the modus operandi of a criminal first.

34. Per capita (of one individual)
The per capita income of a Pakistani is far less than that of an American.

35. Sub judice (being considered in a court)
The case of teachers’ promotion is sub judice.

36. Ultra vires (not valid; not within powers)
The recent orders of the government have been declared ultra vires of the constitution by the Supreme Court.

37. Viva-voce (oral examination)
A viva-voce is held before a Ph.D. degree is awarded to a candidate.

38. Tete-e-tete (informal talk)
He had a tete-e-tete with Shabana.

39. Sine die (for an indefinite period)
Because of teachers’ strike, the college was closed sine die.

40. Sine qua non (necessary condition)
Hard labour is the sine qua non for success.

41. Raisond’ etre (real purpose)
It is difficult to understand the raisand’ etre of terrorists in Pakistan.

42. Sang froid (remaining in the face of danger)
A strong man can bear with bad news with sang froid.

43. Tabula rasa (clean slate)
A villagers mind is a tabula rasa in the beginning.

Prof Muzaffar Bokhari (Retd)