# On Frazier...What word was this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491 "2014-05-02T07:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/1 "2014-05-02T07:19:59Z")
When a female friend takes Miles to a singles bar for moral support, initially he acts stiff and uncomfortable. She basically tells him to loosen up, but he apologizes saying “you know this isn’t exactly my millieur”. My spelling must be wrong for all I can find by Google is “meilleur” which means “best”. So, what is the correct French word (and spelling) for the word he was using to describe that he is out of his element? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/2 "2014-05-02T07:22:52Z")
The word is “milieu” meaning “social environment.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/3 "2014-05-02T07:23:19Z")
milieu ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/4 "2014-05-02T07:31:09Z")
Thanks, all! Obviously, not my milieu! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/5 "2014-05-02T09:37:42Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/6 "2014-05-02T09:38:49Z")
Diane Chambers, BTW, used the same word in talking of her attempts to fit in at Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/7 "2014-05-02T10:34:57Z")
Heh, reminds me of one of my favourite _Cheers_ bits. Frasier and Lilith had subjected their recently-born son Frederick to intelligence testing. Lilith was particularly upset that he was only “average”. This sparked derisive hooting from the bar patrons, which upset her even more. Frasier: Oh,\* really\*, Lilith, you weren’t expecting any sympathy here in Mayberry, were you? Classic double-target sarcasm, and the main reason I loved the Frasier/Lilith pairing. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/8 "2014-05-02T10:57:58Z")
> [@](#): > > **On Frazier…What word was this?** > [@Jinx](#): > > When a female friend takes Miles to a singles bar for moral support, initially he acts stiff and uncomfortable. She basically tells him to loosen up, but he apologizes saying “you know this isn’t exactly my millieur”. My spelling must be wrong for all I can find by Google is “meilleur” which means “best”. So, what is the correct French word (and spelling) for the word he was using to describe that he is out of his element? _ **Mileau** _. And _ **Frasier** _. And _ **Niles** _. 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/9 "2014-05-02T10:58:00Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Thanks, all! Obviously, not my milieu! 😉 Also it’s “Frasier”. And “Niles”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/10 "2014-05-02T11:09:47Z")
I heard it was **Frasier** and **Niles**. Can anyone confirm? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/11 "2014-05-02T11:17:36Z")
WTF did “mileau” come from?!? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/12 "2014-05-02T11:23:33Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Lilith was particularly upset that he was only “average”. Giving the kid the middle name “Gaylord” pretty much ensured he’d face at least ten years of misery from the very start. Not to hijack the thread, but I’ve started binge-watching _ **Boss** _ on line. Grammer is suberb as Frasier’s foul-mouthed doppelganger! ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/13 "2014-05-02T13:30:11Z")
ARCHER: Sorry, but I have no idea how to open this thing. Not really my legerdemain. LANA: You mean “bailiwick”? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/14 "2014-05-03T02:24:33Z")
And as a mental health professional, may I add that using the term “milieu” is perfectly in character. It’s a word that we love to use. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/15 "2014-05-03T14:54:48Z")
So what’s _metier_? Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/16 "2014-05-03T15:00:14Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > So what’s _metier_? Seriously. A particular thing you’re really good at. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/17 "2014-05-03T15:08:58Z")
Ah. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/18 "2014-05-04T05:39:02Z")
And Métis are Canadian citizens of mixed First-Nations/European heritage. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/19 "2014-05-04T05:46:56Z")
And meteors a fiery balls of rock. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491/20 "2014-05-04T06:57:05Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And Métis are Canadian citizens of mixed First-Nations/European heritage. Mestizos is the equivalent term for Latin Americans. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-frazier-what-word-was-this/687491.md?page=2)