Pied a terre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pied à terre is a small second home in the city (typically an apartment or a condominium). It has connotations of a jet set lifestyle. Pieds à terre are usually decorated very well to make up for the space constraints. This gives rise to that oft-used phrase (almost a cliché) of the "chic Manhattan pied-à-terre".
The phrase pied-à-terre literally translates from French to "foot on the ground". This is said to be because pieds-à-terre were traditionally ground-floor apartments. However, more likely, the meaning of the phrase is "to have a foothold", cf. "one foot in the grave"; "terre" (ground, soil) referring to (a different) territory, rather than elevation.
A pied à terre does not have to be owned by its user; one could be said to have a pied à terre in France with a family member or a mistress, if the pied à terre can be used at a whim, in the way of a second home.
The plural of pied à terre is pieds à terre.
