In French and German there is a phrase L'esprit de l'escalier/Die Geist der Treppe, which translates to the title of this thread. It is a formulation for coming up with the perfect comeback, or witty retort after having had an argument with someone. I'm sure everyone can relate. It refers to being in an argument about politics or whatever, and it ends up with you losing, you walk out the door and head down the stairs and it hits you. "I could've called him a cunt!"
That's the spirit of the staircase.
