contretemps

[ kon-truh-tahn; French kawntruh-tahn ]

noun

, plural con·tre·temps [kon, -tr, uh, -tah, n, z, kaw, n, t, r, uh, -, tahn].

1. an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance:

   He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink.

contretemps

/ kɔ̃trətɑ̃; ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn /

noun

1. an awkward or difficult situation or mishap
2. fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent
3. a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing

Word History and Origins

Origin of contretemps¹

1675–85; < French, equivalent to contre- counter- + temps time (< Latin tempus ); perhaps alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle French contrestant, present participle of contrester to oppose; contrast

Word History and Origins

Origin of contretemps¹

C17: from French, from contre against + temps time, from Latin tempus

Example Sentences

Despite the ongoing brutal contretemps, there’s still love, and some laughs, between them.

From Washington Blade

That seemed like it was the end of the matter but then new life was breathed into the contretemps on Monday.

From The Daily Beast

The contretemps escalated during a commercial break when Khrushchev was handed a note by one of his advisers.

From The Daily Beast

Carter reveals that Jay made weird, borderline mentorly calls to Kimmel long before the Conan contretemps began.

From The Daily Beast

She also said that she did not see the latest contretemps between Lindsay and her father as a “controversy.”

From The Daily Beast

Publishing contretemps aside, Zemeckis said she has no intention of curbing the growth of the Staar empire.

From The Daily Beast

A serious contretemps has occurred which will affect you both if you do not leave immediately on receipt of this.

From Project Gutenberg

Bradish was pretty familiar with the phases and the oddities of the dancing craze, but this contretemps rather staggered him.

From Project Gutenberg

This little contretemps somewhat dashed their spirits, but they proceeded nevertheless to the fortune-teller's in their cab.

From Project Gutenberg

"All Monte Carlo seems to be gossiping about that little contretemps," Draconmeyer continued.

From Project Gutenberg

This contretemps, however, is avoided by placing wet weeds on the eggs and by the general moisture of the nest.

From Project Gutenberg