I haven't read all the nuances, but since I have studied French quite a bit and English, find language and linguistics interesting. I think MissPrism is saying that those words are used in English as is and have a specific meaning. Yes, you can always define or describe a word in another way, with a string of other words, if necessary, but not as conveniently or always as accurately (boss of a firm is not the same thing as an entrepreneur, although I think the other phrases like baby clothes are more similar --- still not the exact meaning at all).

However, I think what MissPrism meant is that because there are French words used directly in English without good alternatives, there must be the same situation in France -- English or other language words borrowed and no other good French words to mean exactly the same thing. I know I have heard that is true, but I can't think of the best examples I have heard.

Eg, why do they use "weekend" so much in France? I think that is a term where you know literally it refers to Sat-Sun, and "fin de la semaine" is not exactly quite the same sense (same as baby clothes is not exactly the same as layette). I think this is definitely true in some technical and business terms, but in everyday life -- how about sandwich? How about shampooing? Why do they put "pressing" on shops rather than nettoyage a sec? (although I don't think there is a French word for sandwich). Or, to be silly, how about some of my favorite phrases plastered all over French newspapers or in Match -- like "top model"? They seem to write about them a lot.

This part is a lot more fun.

I suppose that "bill of fare" was the equivalent of "menu", but it's a bit of a mouthful.
Thinking of food, I can't really think of the English equivalent for "table d'hote" or "a la carte".
Then there's "carte blanche"
There are some French expressions that mean something quite different e.g. cul-de-sac meaning a street closed at one end.

I remember a French friend who had a spillage on her kitchen floor.
She said that she'd mop it up with something that I didn't recognise.
It turned out to be a "washing" pronounced with a "v".
The same friend had very good English but was puzzling about what you call the feather on a knight's helmet. She laughed when she was told that it was a plume.
Yes, this is fun isn't it?

This would be so much nicer a thread if the second conversation was posted as a new thread so that we who are interested n the answers to the "sharing meal" subject could follow the thought in this thread.

In Canada we, as Seniors, often order one meal and share it. It's accepted and no problem at all.......I was interested in your answers for the situation in Europe. I guess we won't do that in Germany!

timlin,,,"It would be so much nicer.."\
Scarlett posted this in the lounge but a computer freak friend sent it to me also so it's time for here:

http://www.taperssection.com/referen...eo/Posting.swf