Monte Carlo
4
4.2
- proper noun
:
Monte Carlo
- Many tourists visit Monte Carlo every year to enjoy its famous casino.
Examples
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So congenial that Gaston returned, canceled all engagements... ...and left Paris that same evening for Monte Carlo.
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You took this girl to Monte Carlo at the age of 13?
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The time we took her to Monte Carlo?
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How was Monte Carlo this year?
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Have you been to Monte Carlo, Vic?
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One has to be as rich as you to be bored at Monte Carlo.
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Couldn't we go to Monte Carlo?
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During our vacation in Monte Carlo, we experienced the luxurious lifestyle of the French Riviera.
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The stunning views from the hills of Monte Carlo attract visitors from all over the world.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Monte + Carlo
Monte Carlo is a proper name referring to a specific town and resort; its sense as a luxurious casino destination is not predictable from the constituent items, which are personal/foreign name elements rather than transparent English words. Even if a learner recognized 'Monte' as ‘mount’ in some languages, that knowledge would not lead to the specific meaning of a famous Monaco resort, so the expression is not compositional for a typical B1 learner.
Etymology
Monte Carlo comes from Monte (meaning 'mount' or 'hill') and Carlo (for Prince Charles III), so it literally means 'Mount Charles'. It was named when the area was made into a luxury resort, and that's why Monte Carlo now brings to mind a famous casino, glamour and racing.