6/2/2024 L'Esprit de l'escalier

"L'Esprit de l'escalier" is a French phrase that literally translates to "the spirit of the staircase" in English. It refers to the phenomenon where you come up with the perfect response or comeback to a situation, but only after the moment has passed and you're already leaving or walking away - often on the staircase (escalier) on your way out. Essentially, it's that feeling of thinking of the perfect thing to say, but too late for it to be of any use. It's that frustrating feeling of not being able to think of the right thing to say in the heat of the moment, only to come up with it later when it's too late.