German

Noun

Aplomb m

1. aplomb

English

Noun

aplomb ‎(usually uncountable, plural aplombs)

1. self-confidence; poise; composure.

   His nonchalance and aplomb during hard times have always been his best character trait.

   • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “chapter XV”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:

     “Oh, Wooster,” he said, “I was talking to my mother a night or two ago.” “Oh, yes?” I said, with a slight wave of the hand intended to indicate that if he liked to talk to his mother anywhere, all over the house, he had my approval. “She tells me you are interested in mice.” I didn't like the trend the conversation was taking, but I preserved my aplomb. “Why, yes, fairly interested.” “She says she found you trying to catch one in my bedroom!”

   • 2000, Elizabeth Berg, Range of Motion

     They have a seven-year-old son named Timothy, never called Timmy or Tim; a little scrawny guy who wears thick glasses already, and who tucks his striped T-shirts into his pants with the aplomb of a silver-templed CEO.

   • 2011 September 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania”, in BBC Sport:

     Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson put his below-par performance against Argentina behind him with a fine first-half showing, slotting four kicks from six and controlling his back-line with aplomb, while England's three-quarters were brimming with life and clinical with their execution.

2. (ballet) The apparent elegance and precision exhibited by a confident, accomplished dancer.

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.plɔ̃/

Noun

aplomb m ‎(plural aplombs)

1. vertical (line)
2. stability, equilibrium
3. aplomb

Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from French aplomb.

Noun

aplomb m ‎(invariable)

1. aplomb, self-confidence, poise

Portuguese

Noun

aplomb m (usually uncountable, plural aplombs)

1. aplomb; self-confidence
2. (ballet) aplomb (elegance and precision exhibited by a dancer)

Synonyms

• (self-confidence): autoconfiança, segurança