French leave
A departure taken quietly and unnoticed, without asking for permission or informing anyone.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He took French leave when the party became too boring.”
“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.”
disputed origin
The term dates to the 18th century and is said to originate from a French social custom of departing a reception without formally taking leave of the host or hostess. By omitting the ceremony of the farewell, the guest avoided the inconvenience of a prolonged exit. The English attributed the habit to the French, resulting in the phrase French leave, and the Spanish and Portuguese followed suit with *irse a la francesa* and *sair à francesa*.
The French, however, returned the compliment. In a display of continental disagreement, the French term for such a departure is *filer à l’anglaise*, or leaving in the English manner. This attribution to English manners is shared by the Italian *filarsela all'inglese* and the Polish *wyjść po angielsku*, suggesting that the identity of the person slipping out the back door depends entirely on who is watching them leave.
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- 02
French fact
The presence of French Canada as a distinct cultural, linguistic, and political force within the Canadian Confederation.
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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
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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
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Last updated August 10, 2026