Handy Latin Phrases to Impress Your Friends

 

Over in the PIT lately, there have been a lot of showoffs dropping Latin phrases all over the place just to make Protestants and people who never took Latin feel inferior. But you don’t have to feel inferior anymore because I am here to help. In my never-ending efforts to make everyone’s lives happier, I have compiled a handy list of common Latin phrases with their English translations. Now you, too can attend any cocktail party or fancy event with confidence!

<ahem, ahem> Class, let’s begin:

Persona non grata……..Ungrateful or rude person

Carpe Diem…………………Let’s go fishing.

Ad nauseam……………….That commercial makes me sick.

Ad infinitum………………That commercial goes on forever.

In vino veritas…………….There’s a worm in my wine (useful in Mexico).

Tabula rasa…………………My tablet is racist.

De facto……………………….True dat!

Sic…………………………………Ill. (duh)

Ex libris………………………..Book you have already read

RightAngles delenda est……..RightAngles is delectable.

……………

You’re welcome.

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  1. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Sub divo.

    Take her down to periscope depth, Chief.

    • #61
  2. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Mr. Ricocheter, it sounds like one of those clubs that I wouldn’t join if they would stoop so low as to let in people like me.

    Kent

    People like you would be welcome. I stay out of the pit!

    • #62
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Mr. Ricocheter, it sounds like one of those clubs that I wouldn’t join if they would stoop so low as to let in people like me.

    Kent

    People like you would be welcome. I stay out of the pit!

    It’s not always for the genteel.

    • #63
  4. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    Only Ricochetti are allowed in the PIT . . .

    Oh, don’t get @misthiocracy started on what we should be called again.

    Ricochetori

    Gave up on the French and went to Latin? I thought you were advocating Ricochetoisie?

    When someone puts together a thread about funny French mistranslations…

    • #64
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Mr. Ricocheter, it sounds like one of those clubs that I wouldn’t join if they would stoop so low as to let in people like me.

    Kent

    People like you would be welcome. I stay out of the pit!

    It’s not always for the genteel.

    I try to make an example for the rest of them, but they are slow learners.

    Not regular slow learners. The window-licking, crayon-eating, football-helmet-wearing kind.

    • #65
  6. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

    The web designer isn’t finished yet.

    • #66
  7. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Mr. Ricocheter, it sounds like one of those clubs that I wouldn’t join if they would stoop so low as to let in people like me.

    Kent

    People like you would be welcome. I stay out of the pit!

    It’s not always for the genteel.

    If Kent comes into the pit you may have to educate him, as we were raised in an innocent era, and were busy making a living during the 60s, 70s and 80s when the SJW took over. I went into the pit a couple of times and found myself clutching my pearls. I don’t watch movies and seldom listen to music because of my hearing problems, so most of the time I don’t know what in the heck you are talking about. Kent may be a little more sophisticated, and will get along just fine.

    • #67
  8. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Clutching your pearls in the PIT is only good sense.  Otherwise someone will steal them.

    • #68
  9. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Percival (View Comment):
    Not regular slow learners. The window-licking, crayon-eating, football-helmet-wearing kind.

    Jack Nicholson in “Easy Rider?”

    • #69
  10. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Percival (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Ricocheters, where is this “Pit” of which you speak? Are only big shots allowed in?

    Kent

    Only Ricochetti are allowed in the PIT . . .

    Anybody can be in the PIT. The ability to stay is determined by your ability to tolerate nonsense.

    I meant it in that sense the general consensus is the term is Ricochetti, not Ricocheters.

    In jest, of course.

    • #70
  11. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Mark Camp (View Comment):

    You are sparkling today, RA. You’ve cheered me right up with a few OOLs (Out-Loud Laughs)!

    This made my day @markcamp

    • #71
  12. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    • #72
  13. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    Our hovercrafts are full of eels!

    • #73
  14. Randal H Member
    Randal H
    @RandalH

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Randal H (View Comment):

    RightAngles: -Carpe Diem…………………Let’s go fishing.

    I think the alternative translation for that is “Seize the Carp!”

    No, that’s Carpe Carp

    Yeah, but there’s no use carping about it!

    • #74
  15. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    Our hovercrafts are full of eels!

    • #75
  16. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    Our hovercrafts are full of eels!

    Perfect for this post! This is one of their best ever.

    • #76
  17. KentForrester Inactive
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    I don’t think my original response received the the sort of appreciation that it deserved.  So I’m repeating it:

    Homo erectus:   gay woodie

    Now please don’t say, “Kent, it’s not all that clever.”  I can’t take that kind of criticism.  If I were Kay, I would clutch my pearls. 

    Kent

    • #77
  18. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Mr. Ricocheter, it sounds like one of those clubs that I wouldn’t join if they would stoop so low as to let in people like me.

    Kent

    People like you would be welcome. I stay out of the pit!

    It’s not always for the genteel.

    If Kent comes into the pit you may have to educate him, as we were raised in an innocent era, and were busy making a living during the 60s, 70s and 80s when the SJW took over. I went into the pit a couple of times and found myself clutching my pearls. I don’t watch movies and seldom listen to music because of my hearing problems, so most of the time I don’t know what in the heck you are talking about. Kent may be a little more sophisticated, and will get along just fine.

    I visited once, and my mere presence spoiled everyone’s fun…So, I’ve made myself Panda non grata over there. :-D

    • #78
  19. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    Our hovercrafts are full of eels!

    Perfect for this post! This is one of their best ever.

    Good, so now do you waaaaanT… do you wannnnt to come back to mah plahce, bouncy bouncy?

    • #79
  20. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I read the Aeneid in the original, while skillfully balancing the translation in my lap.  So watch out.  Favorite Latin saying:

    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 

    Remember when custodians were janitors?

    • #80
  21. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):
    I visited once, and my mere presence spoiled everyone’s fun…So, I’ve made myself Panda non grata over there.

    Did not. So there.

    • #81
  22. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    I must say you guys are pretty good at this thing. I think we all have a career as U.N. Translator in our future.

    Our hovercrafts are full of eels!

    A légpárnásom tele van angolnákkal.

    • #82
  23. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    Sorry, that was Hungarian.

    The Latin would be volitonavis meum  plenum anguillis.

    • #83
  24. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Popular topic, so let’s give our scholars a real chance to show off.

    Arma virumque cano is one the of the more famous opening lines in literature.

    This translates to:

    1. Call me Ishmael.
    2. If you really want to hear about it . . 
    3. Robinson Cano has long arms.

    Winner will not receive a Ricochet coffee cup.

     

    • #84
  25. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    Now please don’t say, “Kent, it’s not all that clever.” I can’t take that kind of criticism. If I were Kay, I would clutch my pearls. 

    Kent

    And look for the fainting couch.

    • #85
  26. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    This translates to:

    None of the above.

    • #86
  27. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    KentForrester (View Comment):

    I don’t think my original response received the the sort of appreciation that it deserved. So I’m repeating it:

    Homo erectus: gay woodie

    Now please don’t say, “Kent, it’s not all that clever.” I can’t take that kind of criticism. If I were Kay, I would clutch my pearls.

    Kent

    Don’t worry, I fell off my chair laughing at this one.

    • #87
  28. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Arma virumque cano

    No, it doesn’t mean ‘none of the above’.

    • #88
  29. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Arma virumque cano

    No, it doesn’t mean ‘none of the above’.

    Your armpits are viral smelly.

    • #89
  30. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Arma virumque cano

    No, it doesn’t mean ‘none of the above’.

    Your armpits are viral smelly.

    But what does the phrase mean?

    • #90
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