"Bête Noire" translates literally from French as "black beast". As Webster says, it usually denotes something exceptionally miserable and evil, but can also be used more casually to indicate anything even mildy unpleasent, such as a particularly wicked or destuctive domestic animal. It can also mean a nemesis or nuisance.



Thanks to liveforever for the assistance with spelling and alternate meaning.

Bete" noire" (?). [Fr., lit. black beast.]

Something especially hated or dreaded; a bugbear.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.