What does “pied-a-terre” mean?

A pied-à-terre is a small second home in the city (typically an apartment or a condominium). It has connotations of a jet set lifestyle.[verification needed] Pieds-à-terre are usually decorated very well to make up for the space constraints.

The phrase pied-à-terre literally translates from the French as “foot on the ground”. This is said[attribution needed] to be because pieds-à-terre were traditionally ground-floor apartments. However, more likely[citation needed], the meaning of the phrase is “to have a foothold”; terre (ground, soil) referring to (a different) territory, rather than elevation.

A pied-à-terre does not have to be owned by its user; one could be said to have a pied-à-terre in France with a family member or a mistress, if the pied-à-terre can be used at a whim, in the way of a second home.

In some cities with very expensive real estate[not specific enough to verify], the standard domestic market may be priced out of homes by pieds-à-terre for the better off. The decreased full-time population can also diminish local retail.[citation needed]

Pied A Terre Meaning

Pied-a-terre Definition

french for “foot on the ground”. it’s a sort of pad that posh people (who live in the country) keep in a central city area.