French leave

Related to French leave: French kiss

French leave

1. An absence or departure from some place or event without ceremony, permission, or announcement. The official story is that he's sick, but I think he's just taking French leave. As the evening wore on, we decided to just take French leave and make our way home.
2. In the military, desertion of one's unit. The sergeant is facing a court martial after it was discovered that he'd taken French leave just before the deadly operation.
See also: french, leave
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

French leave

To leave without saying good-bye. The British thought that sneaking away from a gathering without telling anyone you're going wasn't acceptable manners across the channel. Curiously, or perhaps typically, the French refer to the same practice as filer a` l'anglais (“take English leave”). Americans used to use the phrase without knowing its origin. It has been said that the French leave but never say good-bye, while Americans say good-bye but never leave. “French leave” is also military slang for deserting.
See also: french, leave
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • if (one) is a day
  • if he is a day
  • if he's, she's, etc. a day
  • be going great guns
  • all wound up
  • rattle off
  • dirt nap
  • if (one's) a day
  • if a day
  • if one’s a day
References in periodicals archive
French Leave (2.55 Bangor) Showed some improvement to win at a similar level last time.
Topspeed Dave Edwards French Leave (2.55 Bangor) Displayed improved form to win a handicap at Exeter recently and Victor Dartnall's seven-year-old can follow up.
Tips box Candy Creek can build on hurdling debut win for Henderson
FRENCH LEAVE: St Bart's Primary School soccer players (front, from left) Thomas Ball, Kyell Jagodic, Richard Blythe and Callan Moulton; (middle) Ryan Moore, Josh Bird, Nathan Fairchild, Luke Jaynes and Jon Govier; (back) Dale Sawyer
League winners qualify for Europe
FRENCH LEAVE Barton is joining Marseille for a season
JOEY LANDS MARSEILLE LOAN DEAL
Lay of the day French Leave 2.55 Bangor Victor Dartnall's gelding showed bits and pieces of form in five outings before getting off the mark in impressive fashion at Exeter last time out on testing going.
Dont Tell The Wife to prove winning policy
FRENCH LEAVE: John Blight (left), of LTI, presents the left-hand- drive TXII to David Lea, of Octobus
BUSINESS life: Next stop Paris for the latest black cab
FRENCH LEAVE: Georgie Wilkinson (front) with other dancers who are going to appear at Disneyland Paris.
Dancers taking to Disney stage
FRENCH LEAVE: Pupils and staff from Exhall Grange School at the market.
Pupils in the market for a French lesson
FRENCH LEAVE: A chance to lap up the sights, including the Arc de Triomphe
Cool home - but a warm welcome
Liz, in her book French Leave: An Irishwoman's Adventures in Normandy, said: "Ireland is not an entirely pretty picture.
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO.. HOME? Author wants online vote to decide her future
BRITNEY Spears looks like she's taken French leave from pal Paris - for a date with a mystery hunk.
Brit on the side; SINGER'S NEW DATE WEEKS AFTER SPLIT
FRENCH LEAVE: Couple off to dinner last night; And this is where they're staying..; THE RITZ HOTELTHE BEDROOMTHE BATHROOM; THE SITTING ROOM; PICTURE: MATRIXPHOTOS.COM
Out and about in Paris; Posh's joy at surprise trip
CAMERA SHY Jarman tries to hide yesterday; UNDERCOVER French leaves the court
Asbo residents 'romp' on CCTV