Pied-a-terre for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: pjeɪ_tA_'tɛRWhat does Pied-a-terre really mean?
Pied-a-terre is a fancy word that comes from French, which means "foot on the ground" when translated literally. But hold on, let's break it down in a way that will make it easier for you to understand, my friend!
Imagine you are going on a vacation, and you don't live in that place permanently. You need a place to stay temporarily, right? So, you decide to rent an apartment or maybe stay in a hotel during your time away. In this situation, your temporary apartment or hotel room is called a "pied-a-terre." It's a place where you can rest your feet on the ground, just for a short while.
Let me give you a little analogy to help you visualize it better. Think of "pied-a-terre" like a home away from home. It's not your permanent residence like your own house, where you live most of the time. Instead, it's a cozy place you can settle into while you're away, a little nest where you can relax, sleep, and rejuvenate. Just like birds have their nests as their temporary homes, a "pied-a-terre" is your little temporary nest in a different city or country.
Now, there is another definition of "pied-a-terre" we should explore to make sure you have a complete understanding. In the world of architecture and city planning, a "pied-a-terre" refers to a small secondary residence or apartment that someone has in addition to their primary home. It's kind of like having a backup home or a little escape place when you want to spend time in a different location.
Think of it this way, my friend: let's say you have a friend who lives in the city but also owns a small cottage in the countryside. That countryside cottage is their "pied-a-terre," a place they can go to when they want a change of scenery, some peace and quiet, or just simply to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
So, there you have it! "Pied-a-terre" is all about having a temporary home away from home or a secondary residence to retreat to when you need a change or a break. And just remember, while the word might sound fancy, its meaning is all about finding comfort and respite wherever you go!
Revised and Fact checked by Michael Davis on 2023-10-29 21:22:07
Pied-a-terre In a sentece
Learn how to use Pied-a-terre inside a sentece
- When people travel to a different city or country and stay in a small apartment or a small house just for a short period of time, they call it a 'pied-a-terre'. For example, if someone from New York visits Paris and rents a small apartment for a few weeks, that apartment can be called a 'pied-a-terre'.
- Imagine a businessperson who frequently travels to a big city for meetings or conferences. Instead of staying in a hotel every time, they might choose to have a small apartment there, which they use only when they need to stay overnight. That apartment is their 'pied-a-terre'.
- Sometimes people have two homes, one in the city and another in a quieter place like the countryside. The house in the quiet place is usually their main residence, but when they want to spend some time in the city, they may have a small apartment there. This small city apartment can be called their 'pied-a-terre'.
- Let's say that a retired couple lives in a large house in their hometown, but they also love visiting a coastal town during the summer. They decide to buy a small apartment in that coastal town that they can use during their summer visits. That apartment would be their 'pied-a-terre'.
- Sometimes people have jobs that require them to travel frequently, but they still want to maintain a home base. In this case, they might have a small apartment near the airport or in the city where they often travel to. That apartment serves as their 'pied-a-terre'.
Pied-a-terre Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.