An American is visiting in France for several weeks. As his stay nears an
end, he is sitting around with three of his new-found French friends, just
generally shooting the breeze. The subject turns to language, and the
American says, "Guys, I do have one question left. I keep hearing this
expression, "sang froid". What does it mean? I know that it literally
means, "cold blood", but what does it *mean*?"
The first Frenchman replies, "Ah, zat is easy. Say that a man walks into
his bedroom, only to find his wife in bed with his best friend. If he can
turn around and walk out without them knowing he was evair zere, *zat* is
sang froid!"
The second Frenchman interjected, "You have eet all wrong! If, in zis
circumstance, zee gentleman can calmly stand zere, and say "Please don't
mind me; continue", zen *zat* is sang froid!"
"Non, non, non!" burst out the third. "If ze gentleman bursts een on his
wife and his best friend, stands there saying, "Please continue", and his
friend *can* continue, *zat* is sang froid!".
