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occasion

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com

Definition: chance, opportunity

The French words une chance and une opportunité are false cognates; the French word you usually want to translate "chance" or "opportunity" is une occasion.

Je n'ai pas eu l'occasion de le faire - I haven't had a chance to do it.

d'occasion - second-hand

C'est une robe d'occasion - It's a second-hand (used) dress.

Related: sauter sur / saisir l'occasion - to jump at the chance; laisser passer / échapper l'occasion - to let the opportunity slip by; à l'occasion - sometimes; passer par occasion - to happen by

(click the little red + white graphic below to hear the Mot du jour pronounced)
Pronunciation: [uh ka zyo(n)] Audio Link

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