staircase wit

English - English

Definition of staircase wit in English English dictionary

Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so

One of the most insightful thinkers I know, the computer entrepreneur Yossi Vardi, prompted me to summarize my idea while standing on one leg. It was not too convenient to stand one one leg after a few glasses of perfumed Riesling, so I failed in my improvisation. The next day I experienced staircase wit.

Hyphenation

stair·case wit

Turkish pronunciation

sterkeys wît

Pronunciation

/ˈsterˌkās ˈwət/ /ˈstɛrˌkeɪs ˈwɪt/

Etymology

() A calque of French l'esprit de l'escalier.