The ability to say or do the right or graceful thing. See synonyms at tact.
[French : savoir, to know how + faire, to do.]
savoir-faire
Dictionary:
sa·voir-faire (săv'wär-fâr')  |
n.
The ability to say or do the right or graceful thing. See synonyms at tact.
The ability to say or do the right or graceful thing. See synonyms at tact.
| Wordsmith Words: savoir-faire |
(SAV-wahr-fayr)
noun: The ability to say or do the right thing in any situation; tact.
Etymology
From French savoir-faire (know-how), from savoir (to know) + faire (to do).
Usage
"In a cascade of thanks, C.S. Richardson bows gracefully to all those elegant Londoners, full of savoir faire." — Peter Wells; The A to Z of Life; New Zealand Herald (Auckland); Jul 7, 2008.
| Thesaurus: savoir-faire |
noun
- The ability to say and do the right thing at the right time: address, diplomacy, tact, tactfulness. See ability/inability, courtesy/discourtesy.
| Antonyms: savoir faire |
n
Definition: social skill
Antonyms: awkwardness, gaucheness
| Best of the Web: savoir-faire |
Some good "savoir-faire" pages on the web:
 Phrase www.phrases.org.uk |
Learn More
 | Savoir Faire (A Compilation) (1981 Album by Mink DeVille) |
| tact |
| Savoir-Faire (2000 Album by Various Artists) |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wordsmith Words. © 2009 Wordsmith.org. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Antonyms. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved. Read more |
ADVERTISEMENT
Mentioned in
- Savoir Faire (A Compilation) (1981 Album by Mink DeVille)
- tact
- Savoir-Faire (2000 Album by Various Artists)
- Cultural Adventures (travel guide)
- Paul Daigle (Cajun Artist, '90s)
- Trash, Rats and Microphones (2008 Album by Heloise & The Savoir Faire)
- Big Diamond Robbery (1929 Western Film)
- John Henry (1994 Album by They Might Be Giants)
- Force 7 (1999 Album by Force 7)
- The New Girl: Saved by the Bell (TV Episode) (1992 Comedy TV Episode)
- Yves Montand (French musician & actor)
- Michel de Villers (Jazz Artist, '80s)
- Bob Thompson (Easy Listening Artist, '50s, '60s)
- Nicole Mitchell (Jazz Artist, '90s, 2000s)
