He took French leave when the party became too boring.
French leave
idiomA departure taken quietly and unnoticed, without asking for permission or informing anyone.
Origin
disputed originFrom French (adjective) + leave (noun), apparently from a French custom, already recorded in the 18th century, of leaving from receptions or other events without formally announcing one’s departure to the host or hostess. Compare Spanish irse a la francesa and Portuguese sair à francesa (“go in the French manner”) but also the otherwise ubiquitous attribution of this behaviour to the English as with French filer à l’anglaise (“leave in the English manner”), Italian filarsela all'inglese, Polish wyjść po angielsku, etc.
The employee took French leave during the meeting because he had an urgent personal matter to attend to.
Disenchanted by the tedious nature of the gala, the diplomat took French leave, slipping out through the side door before the speeches began.
- 01
eat and leave no crumbs
Synonym of eat (“to be very good at something; to rule; to rock”).
- 02
French fact
The presence of French Canada as a distinct cultural, linguistic, and political force within the Canadian Confederation.
- 03
leave a sour taste in one's mouth
To give one an unpleasant feeling or memory.
- 04
leave at the door
To dispense with something for now; to forget about it situationally, or omit or discard it in a given place or instance.
- 05
leave behind
To abandon.
- 06
leave for dust
To leave or abandon someone alone without helping or caring for them.
- 07
leave home
To stop living with one's parents.
- 08
leave it all on the field
Used to remind players not to dwell on minor mistakes, issues or conflicts that happened during the course of play.