Dictionary of Funny Fencing Phrases
- ABSTAIN - French for “so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention”
- ADVANCE - Forward motion made by male fencers toward female fencers, usually resulting in a slap across the face.
- ATTACK IN PREPARATION - When you sneak up and hit your opponant while they’re still putting on their gear.
- BALLESTRA - A male ballerina
- BARRAGE - Shelling your opponent with cannon fire from several miles away
- BEAT - How you feel after fencing
- CHANGE OF ENGAGEMENT - Selecting a new fiancee
- CORPS-A-CORPSE - French for “full contact fencing”
- CROISE - A french pastry
- DEROBEMENT - The houdini like motions required to escape fencing jackets
- DISENGAGE - Getting rid of your fiancee, usually by fencing too much
- EN GARDE - French for “On Guard”, a paranoid state in which the fencer believes everyone is out to kill him/her
- FEINT - what you do after fencing too long, in full uniform, on a hot summer day. Also known as heat stroke.
- FEEBLE - What old fencers usually become
- FLECHE - What fencers do it in
- FORTE - What permanent en garde fencers live in
- ONE-TWO - Basic fencing dance step, followed by Cha-Cha-Cha
- PASSE - Close maneuver made by male fencers toward female fencers, always resulting in the male fencer being Maced
- POMMEL - Beating your opponent senseless with the hilt of your sword
- REDOUBLEMENT - Pause during the bout for the fencer to take another breath mint (In preparation for an ADVANCE or a PASSE)