Bête noire: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Bête noire noun. A person or thing that someone especially dislikes.
How to say it
bet NWAH/ˌbɛt ˈnwɑː/
2 syllables, stressed on the second (NWAH).
Bête noire in a sentence
Slow walkers in the station are my bête noire.
Tax havens have long been the senator's bête noire.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- pet hate
- bugbear
- anathema
- thorn in the side
Where bête noire comes from
French for black beast.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Tax havens have long been the senator's _____.
- fiasco
- sitzfleisch
- bête noire
Show the answer
bête noire: Tax havens have long been the senator's bête noire.