bon mot
/bɒn ˈməʊ
/noun (plural bon mots or bons mots pronounced same or /-məʊz/)
A witty remark.He is laconically hilarious, hot in a blonde way, he can pass off a piece of dialogue as the wittiest bon mot without breaking a sweat and he also writes....
- His elegant, meticulously phrased performances of Haydn and Mozart became legendary, as did his caustic, witty bons mots.
- Every political side gets their shot at a bon mot, a quip, or a zinger.
Synonyms
witticism, quip, pun, pleasantry, jest, joke, sally
informal wisecrack, one-liner
rare apophthegm, paronomasia, equivoque, Atticism
Origin
Mid 18th century: French, literally 'good word'.