boutade

Definitions

A sudden outbreak or outburst; a caprice, a whim.

Equivalents

Examples

“[H]e suddenly broke out, "Well, then, as I understand⟳ you, what you recommend⟳ me is to marry⟳ Miss⟳ Bernardstone, and carry⟳ on an intrigue with Lady Vandeleur!" He knew perfectly that I recommended nothing of the sort⟳, and he must have⟳ been very angry to indulge in this boutade.”

“Thus we see⟳ that Wilde's witticisms contain⟳ a wealth of unsuspected meaning. Even his apparently nonsensical boutades are Late Romantic gestures.”

CEFR level