First Known Use: 1769
Dictionary
contretemps
noun con·tre·temps \ˈkän-trə-ˌtäⁿ, kōⁿ-trə-täⁿ\
: an unfortunate or embarrassing event, argument, or disagreement
plural con·tre·temps \-(ˌ)täⁿ(z)\
Full Definition of CONTRETEMPS
1
: an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence or situation
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Origin of CONTRETEMPS
French, from contre- counter- + temps time, from Latin tempus
Related to CONTRETEMPS
- Synonyms
- altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argy-bargy [chiefly British], battle royal, bicker, brawl, argument, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle
Rhymes with CONTRETEMPS
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