“L’ESPRIT DE L’ESCALIER” or “staircase wit” is what the French call that maddening situation of coming up with a perfect retort hours, days or even years after an argument.

While some of us agonise over past squabbles for years, wondering what we could have done to save face, others are naturally very talented at delivering swift and devastating burns straight away.

These people will make you wish you were more quick-witted. Try not to hate them. Learn from them.

We’ll start with some easy ones…

1) This no-holds-barred response to street art

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2) This rather fair assessment of the situation

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3) When TV3 told RTÉ where to go with their dramas

Now they’re heating up a little bit

4) When Kris Jenner got real with Kim Kardashian

(Context: Kim was married to former husband Kris Humphries for 72 days.)

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5) When Tom from MySpace schooled this cheeky tweeter

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6) When this person’s deep thought backfired

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7) When Zach Galifianakis got one over on Bruce Willis

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And the big ones…

8) When TV host Andy Levy “apologised” to Chris Brown for this tweet

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9) This personal ad burn that made us go “OH SNAP”

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10) When Anderson Cooper stopped the haters in their tracks

We admire his commitment to the burn.

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Ooh.

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