Au Fait adj. Fully informed; familiar with a subject.
"Au fait" is a French phrase that means "well-informed" or "knowledgeable about something." It is used to describe someone who is familiar with, skilled in, or fully aware of a particular subject or situation. The phrase comes from the French au (meaning "at") and fait (meaning "fact" or "done"), and when used in English, it conveys the sense that someone is adept or expert in a given area.
The term "au fait" is often used in more formal or sophisticated contexts to indicate a high level of competence or understanding. It implies that a person is not only knowledgeable but also up to date on the latest developments in that particular field, making them especially capable of offering insightful or informed opinions.
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
- Benjamin Franklin
In 18th-century France, being described as au fait-fully knowledgeable or well-informed-was such a compliment that salons sometimes held playful "tests of wit," where guests tried to prove they were au fait on the latest science, politics, or gossip; the amusing twist is that many people prepared for these gatherings the way students cram for exams, hoping to appear effortlessly well-versed when the moment came.
Au fait with the world,
He speaks with calm and assured grace,
Each answer that he gives,
Is rife with wisdom's measured pace.