savoir-faire
[sav-wahr-fair; French sa-vwar-fer]
- knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact.
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Origin of savoir-faire
1805–15; < French: literally, knowing how to do
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for savoir-faire
Historical Examples
Here her energy and savoir-faire rendered her indispensable in every department.
Agnes of SorrentoHarriet Beecher Stowe
In Glasgow, show your savoir-faire; but, in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, your savoir-vivre.
Friend Mac DonaldMax O'Rell
Determined that never again, even to herself, should she call me a boy, I summoned to my aid all the savoir-faire I could command.
The Rose of Old St. LouisMary Dillon
A certain cheery impertinence which characterized Charlie was fondly set down as savoir-faire and dash.
Tomaso's Fortune and Other StoriesHenry Seton Merriman
The savoir-faire which would have helped some men to take the rebuke entirely deserted him.
The DrunkardCyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
savoir-faire
- the ability to do the right thing in any situation
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Word Origin
French, literally: a knowing how to do
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for savoir-faire
n.
"instinctive knowledge of the right course of action in any circumstance," 1815, from French, literally "to know (how) to do," from savoir "to know" (from Latin sapere; see sapient) + faire (from Latin facere; see factitious). French also has savoir-vivre "ability in good society; knowledge of customs in the world."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper