beau geste

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French beau geste (literally “beautiful gesture”).

Noun

beau geste (plural beaux gestes or beau gestes)

1. A gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance.
   • 1920, “The Zionist Congresses”, in G. W. Prothero, editor, Zionism:

     Chamberlain's offer was enthusiastically welcomed by a section of the Zionists and by all with gratitude. It was a beau geste on the part of the Government, and a recognition that Herzl and his following were regarded seriously in serious quarters.

   • 1982, Jean Baer, “The Jewish Elite Way of Life”, in The Self-Chosen: “Our Crowd” Is Dead, Long Live Our Crowd, New York, N.Y.: Arbor House, →ISBN, part 2 (Who’s Who), page 336:

     Real estate ventures provide opportunities for beau gestes that result in comfort and convenience.

   • 1988, William Manchester, The Last Lion, volume 2, page 635:

     In a magnificent beau geste, the destroyer, hopelessly trapped, turned as if to flee, threw out a smoke screen, and when the [enemy ship] charged into it, rammed her at flank speed […]

Translations

gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance

• Icelandic: (fake benevolence) uppgerðargóðvild f, (pretentious magnanimity) sýndardrengskapur m, (a noble act) göfugmannlegt verk n, (an honourable deed) drengskaparbragð n
• Indonesian: beau geste

Indonesian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French beau geste (“beau geste”)

Noun

beau geste (plural beau-beau geste)

1. beau geste: gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance.

Further reading

• “beau geste” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.