au fait
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French au fait (literally “at fact”).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌəʊˈfeɪ/
Audio (UK): (file)
Adjective
au fait (comparative more au fait, superlative most au fait)
- Being familiar with or informed about something.
- Synonyms: acquainted, at home, conversant, familiar
- Are you au fait with the rules of the game?
- 1871, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, “The Silent Partner”, in Popular American Literature of the 19th Century, →ISBN, page 857:
- Now there is father; he is au fait in all these matters; has a theory for every case of whooping-cough, – and a mission school.
- 1999, R.J. Hankinson, The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy, →ISBN, page 535:
- In that case, it would help to have a benevolent deity who is au fait with those complexities — but that there is such a deity is a feature of Stoic theology.
- 2003, D R J Laming, Understanding Human Motivation: What Makes People Tick?, →ISBN, page 4:
- This may sound needless to the professional who is au fait with the history and direction of the investigation.
Further reading
- “au fait”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
French
Pronunciation
Adjective
au fait (invariable)
- (followed by de) au fait
- Êtes-vous au fait des règles du jeu ? ― Are you au fait with the rules of the game?
See also
Adverb
- by the way
- Au fait, d’où viens-tu ? ― By the way, where do you come from?
Usage notes
Not to be confused with au fait de.
Anagrams
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