bijou

Everyday

1. (UK, mostly estate agents' language) Bijou means small and elegant, used about a house or flat; it is often a euphemism for "very small". tree →
2. (rare noun) A bijou is a small jewel or a pretty trinket; it is the French word for jewel. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday British life, house adverts say "a bijou cottage" or "bijou flat" to make a tiny home sound charming. Readers often understand it as "too small". In stories it can sound posh or funny. Phrases: bijou flat, bijou residence, bijou cottage.

Examples

• The advert said "bijou flat", which meant it was tiny. tree →
• They live in a bijou cottage by the sea. tree →
• "Bijou" is a nice way of saying the house is small. tree →
• The café is bijou but very cosy. tree →
• Grandma keeps a little bijou on a chain. tree →
• The "bijou residence" turned out to be one room. tree →

Note

Pronounced "BEE-zhoo". From French. Mostly British. It is a euphemism: estate agents use it to avoid saying "small". Plural of the noun: bijoux.