Brief encounter
Meaning
A short, often unexpected and significant, meeting between two people, frequently with romantic undertones.
Origin
The phrase "brief encounter" is quite literal in its basic meaning: a short meeting. However, its profound popularization and romantic connotation are inextricably linked to the iconic 1945 British film Brief Encounter, directed by the masterful David Lean. This cinematic masterpiece tells the poignant story of Laura Jesson and Dr. Alec Harvey, two married strangers who meet by chance at a railway station. Their platonic friendship quickly blossoms into an intense, yet ultimately unconsummated and short-lived, affair, forcing them to confront duty and desire. The film's enduring legacy cemented the phrase in the public's imagination, imbuing it with a sense of bittersweet longing and the tantalizing possibility of a poignant, fleeting romantic connection.
Examples
- They shared a brief encounter at the art gallery, exchanging a few words before being swept away by the crowd.
- Despite it being just a brief encounter on his travels, the woman he met left a lasting impression on him.