L'esprit de l'escalier or l'esprit d'escalier (literally, staircase wit) is a French term that describes the predicament of thinking of the perfect comeback too late.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as follows:
Definition:
A witty remark thought of too late, on the way home; the clever
comment you wish you had deliveredExample:
"When he bragged about sleeping like a baby, I should have added the
bit about waking up crying every two hours, but that's just esprit de
l'escalier. At the time I just nodded and said nothing."
Is there an English term for that?
Best Answer
I've only ever known it in its literal translation as staircase wit.