Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- phrase rare, idiomatic Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
A calque of French l'esprit de l'escalier.
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Examples
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hernesheir commented on the word staircase wit
L'espirit de l'escalier - coined by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) - meaning the clever retort one thinks of when heading down the stairs after an argument in the drawing room. "I should have said..."
September 20, 2009
reesetee commented on the word staircase wit
Also see esprit d'escalier and l'esprit de l'escalier.
September 23, 2009