Talk:Bête noire
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[edit] Merge
I merged the content of Bete noir into this article. The former originally stated:
- In common usage, we could probably expand this to "the object of most aversion" as it tends to be used singularly, stressing the extent of the dislike or aversion. In this sense it can be seen as a one-way, impersonal Nemesis, the object of these feelings being unaware (or incapable of being aware) of the relationship.
I haven't merged this content, as I don't think it is correct — it is dubious to assert that in the common usage, the object of the phrase is unaware of being detested. Neilc 05:24, 2 Apr 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Move?
Shouldn't this be in the Wikidictionary instead? Venice 14:28, 5 May 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Dictionary stuff and quote.
Wikipedia is not a dictionary, not a quote repostiory. The stuff I removed is now below:
- Bête noire is a phrase assimilated from the French, literally meaning "black beast." It refers to someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one's existence.
- "By an application of the theory of relativity to the taste of readers, to-day in Germany I am called a German man of science, and in England I am represented as a Swiss Jew. If I come to be regarded as a bête noire the descriptions will be reversed, and I shall become a Swiss Jew for the Germans and a German man of science for the English!" —Albert Einstein (1879–1955), from the article "Einstein on His Theory" (The Times, London, 28 November 1919)
--Commander Keane 16:40, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
