lynnmosher 5,216 Posted June 11 I thought I'd share dictionary.com's word of the day. You'll see at the end of the definition why... Word of the day: esprit de l’escalier (es-pree duh le-skahl-yey) Definition: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed: Writers, by nature, tend to be people in whom l' esprit de l'escalier is a recurrent experience. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carolinamtne 2,298 Posted June 11 Oh, yeah! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carolinamtne 2,298 Posted June 11 The advantage to being a writer is that you can recreate the scene with a character and make the appropriate comeback! 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 701 Posted June 11 6 minutes ago, lynnmosher said: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed Ah, I hate when that happens! 😄 Who knew there was an actual word for it? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmosher 5,216 Posted June 11 LOL I know! Always happens to me. And too bad our writer-brain can't inject something a little quicker! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Leone 1,082 Posted June 11 2 hours ago, lynnmosher said: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed That happens all the time. 1 hour ago, carolinamtne said: The advantage to being a writer is that you can recreate the scene with a character and make the appropriate comeback! That's why my characters are way more witty and clever than real life. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Claire Tucker 1,234 Posted June 11 So that's why it's easier for me to communicate via writing ... 4 hours ago, lynnmosher said: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed 'cause this happens all the time in real life conversation! There's no "backspace" or "delete" in verbal communication ... 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarah Daffy 2,863 Posted June 11 (edited) 6 hours ago, Claire Tucker said: So that's why it's easier for me to communicate via writing ... Me too! I think up this perfect thing in my head, write it down, then when I try to explain it, everyone else is like, "Huh? What planet are you from?" It's happened with me and my sister before. Now it's happened to me again. . . Edited June 11 by Sarah Daffy 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erin Cook 1,093 Posted June 11 Oh my word, that happens to me too! That's why I'm often quieter in person than I am when I write messages to people. I have to take time to think out what I want to say to folks, which causes my "brilliant remarks" to often come to my brain looooooonnnnng after the subject has shifted or been completely dropped altogether!! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carolinamtne 2,298 Posted June 11 It seems several of us have a lot in common! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HK1 988 Posted June 12 11 hours ago, lynnmosher said: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed: So there's a word for the condition that plagues me 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
William D'Andrea 345 Posted June 18 (edited) It often happens to a lot of people; even those who aren't writers. Once everything's ended and everyone's gone home, they figure out what they should have said. On the other hand, maybe everything would have been even worse, if they hadn't kept their mouths shut. Edited June 18 by William D'Andrea Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PenName 835 Posted June 19 On 6/11/2019 at 6:19 AM, lynnmosher said: Word of the day: esprit de l’escalier (es-pree duh le-skahl-yey) Definition: a perfect comeback or witty remark that one frustratingly comes up with only when the moment for doing so has passed Oh look, you found the definition of my constant state of mind! 😂 It seems I am in (very) good company! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suspensewriter 2,857 Posted June 19 On 6/11/2019 at 9:19 AM, lynnmosher said: Word of the day: esprit de l’escalier (es-pree duh le-skahl-yey) Well... huh. I never. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites