“to take a French leave”

36 comments
  1. In American English I don’t think we use this expression but I do know that in Russian it’s called “to leave as an Englishman” – Uhodit po angliyski,

  2. I think it should be called “English farewell” or something, because, you know, in most country they call that English Exit or leaving the english way.

  3. So the score is 4 : 9 right now in favor of “to leave in English style ”

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    Spanish, Portuguese, German, English language: a French farewell

    the rest : to leave English style

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    Personally I call it “giving your friends a heart attack” after disappearing drunk during a night out partying

  4. if we don’t look at the fact that everybody seems to say “leave english style” except england, i find it funny that france say “leave english style” and england say “leave french style”. Good old rivalry here

  5. I thought that was drinking all the wine and leaving with the host’s wife.

    Not mine, but I thought it was hilarious.

  6. What kind of approval do you need to seek? I have departured from many locations without informing others or without seeking approval, such as leaving my house to go to the store. So there must be more to this phrase.

  7. Oh, I thought this was unique to me, but apparently I’m just being typically English, according to half of Europe.

  8. In dutch we call it ‘de rattentaxi nemen’, taking the rat taxi. Though I think it may be student-specific slang. It’s usually drunk people taking the rat taxi.

  9. Similarly in french “french cream” is called “crème anglaise” (english cream) funny how things like this happen

  10. In Greek we call it “To take a flag leave” (άδεια από τη σημαία). Originate from conscripts that left army camps without authorization, sarcastically “asking from the flag to grant them their leave of absence”.

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