| 词汇 | french leave |
| 词源 | French leave. The French are noted for their politeness—wit- ness the expression French fare (See french), overelaborate manners, which makes it all the more clear that the pejorative French leave was invidiously coined. In 18th-century French society it was the custom to depart from a dinner or ball with- out formally bidding the hostess or guests goodbye. Such a sur- reptitious departure was dubbed a French leave by the decorous English, but the voluble French always pinned the custom on their self-conscious cousins, calling it taking English leave (s’en aller [or filer] a l’anglaise). French leave is also widely used for a soldier who has gone A.W.O.L. or “over the hill.” In all cases it means someone who has slipped out before his absence is noticed. |
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