Fait accompli
Meaning
A situation or event that has already happened or been decided and cannot be changed, often presented to others without prior consultation.
Origin
The phrase "fait accompli" is a direct import from French, meaning literally "accomplished fact." Its arrival in the English lexicon during the 18th century, an era when French was the language of international diplomacy and aristocratic circles, speaks volumes about its original use. Picture a cunning statesman presenting a new treaty or a critical decision that has already been executed, leaving all other parties with no room for negotiation or dissent. It's a clever maneuver, a strategic power play designed to cut through debate and enforce acceptance. The phrase perfectly encapsulates that feeling of irreversible finality, a situation where the die has already been cast, and there's nothing left to do but concede.
Examples
- The manager presented the new departmental structure as a fait accompli, leaving employees with no opportunity to offer feedback.
- By the time the protests erupted, the government's decision to privatize the utility was already a fait accompli.