beau geste

English

Borrowed from French beau geste (literally “beautiful gesture”).

beau geste (plural beaux gestes)

A gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance.
- 1920, “The Zionist Congresses”, in G. W. Prothero, editor, Zionism:
  Chamberlain's offer was enthusiastically welcomed by a section of the Zionists and by all with gratitude. It was a beau geste on the part of the Government, and a recognition that Herzl and his following were regarded seriously in serious quarters.
- 1988, William Manchester, The Last Lion, volume 2, page 635:
  In a magnificent beau geste, the destroyer, hopelessly trapped, turned as if to flee, threw out a smoke screen, and when the [enemy ship] charged into it, rammed her at flank speed […]

gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance

Icelandic: (fake benevolence) uppgerðargóðvild f, (pretentious magnanimity) sýndardrengskapur m, (a noble act) göfugmannlegt verk n, (an honourable deed) drengskaparbragð n

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.