take French leave
take French leave
make an unannounced or unauthorized departure
This expression stems from the custom prevalent in 18th-century France of leaving a reception or entertainment without saying goodbye to your host or hostess.
RELATED IDIOMS :
excuse my French = pardon my French
used to apologize for swearing – informal
French has been used since the late 19th century as a euphemism for bad language.
1992 - Angela Lambert - A Rather English Marriage - A loony can change a bloody toilet-roll, pardon my French.
take French leave :
Idioms Index – Previous Page
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