The Upside of Uncertainty

Chapter 16

Fait Sur Mesure

Learning a foreign language can be exhilarating but also comes with frustration, confusion, and exhaustion. Having lived in France for six years, and despite studying French in high school and college, we often bemoan the fact that we aren’t more fluent and still find it difficult to follow the subtle subplots in movies. (“I know the guy is starting an affair, but is it with the editor or the best friend or both?”) But one benefit of this translation soup is the discovery of a French word that illuminates an idea, enriching our understanding in a way English cannot. One example is the French way of saying “custom” when referring to anything made to your specifications. Fait sur mesure (literally made to measure) is ...