word of the day: vedette

word of the day: vedette

Mario Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian novelist. He became involved in Peruvian electoral politics in the 80s. In the following paragraph Vargas Llosa talks about a man mulling a run for mayor in the capital, Lima. 

context:

His image was that of a likable emcee and a favorite of the masses — because of his manner of speaking filled with ‘in’ words, such as manito, for ‘pal,’ patita, for ‘getting the bounce,’ chelita, for ‘blondie,’ and all the picturesque expressions of the latest slang popular with teenagers — associated with the world of show business, of popular singers, comedians, and vedettes, and not with public affairs.

definition (lexico): A leading star of stage, screen, or television.

I like the way Vargas Llosa defines a bunch of words all at once, except vedette. Anybody familiar with the phrase “getting the bounce”? According to Collins, it means “to dismiss or be dismissed from a job.” I think I’ve heard “give him the bounce,” maybe on TV? Collins says it’s US slang. 

source:

A Fish in the Water: a memoir

by Mario Vargas Llosa

translated by Helen Lane

1994. Farrar Straus Giroux, New York