Deja vu

Meaning

The idiom "deja vu" means a feeling of familiarity with something that is experienced for the first time or something that has already been experienced, but seems to be happening again as if for the first time. It can also refer to a recurring experience or sensation that is unexplained or mysterious.

Usage

• I had deja vu when I walked into the old theater. It felt like I had been there before, even though it was my first time attending a show there.
• Sometimes I get deja vu when I'm driving, like I've been down that road before even though I haven't.
• I had deja vu when I met my celebrity crush at the airport. It was like we were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.
• I got deja vu when I saw the movie again. The plot seemed so familiar, like I had already seen it before.
• Some people believe that deja vu is a sign of a parallel universe or a glitch in time. It can be unsettling to experience, but also fascinating.

Roots and History

The idiom "deja vu" has been around since the 19th century. The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but it is believed to have come from the French language. In French, "deja vu" means "already seen." The term was first used in a scientific journal in 1834 by French writer and scientist Charles Blanqui. He described a recurring sensation that he felt like he had already experienced something before. Over time, the idiom has become more commonly used in English to describe a similar feeling.

Synonyms in English

• Groundhog Day effect
• déjà vu
• déjà vu
• déjà vu
• déjà vu

Synonyms in other languages

• 疑似迷失的感觉 (yóusì mài fèi de gǎn jiā) - Chinese
• Feeling of familiarity or recognition of something that has not been experienced before (Dutch)
• Deja vue - French
• נופען מנסיעה (nuf'an menseah) - Hebrew
• לבדות (levdovt) - Hebrew

Similar Idioms

• draw the line

• ducks and drakes

• down and out