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pique

jab, cutting remark

noun PEEK Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: Old French piquer (to prick, to sting)

Also means

spade (card suit)

Usage Note

Pique most commonly means a barbed or cutting remark — lancer une pique (to make a dig at someone). It is also the French word for the spades suit in a deck of cards (pique ♠). The verb piquer (to sting, to steal, to inject) is the source. Note: piqûre (injection, sting) is a related noun with a distinct meaning.

Examples

"Elle lui a lancé une pique devant tout le monde."

Natural Translation

She made a dig at him in front of everyone.

Literal Translation

She launched a jab at him in front of everyone.

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