French leave
Originally, the custom (in the 18th c. prevalent in France and sometimes imitated in England) of going away from a reception, etc. without taking leave of the host or hostess. Hence, jocularly, to take French leave is to go away, or do anything, without permission or notice.
| 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1895) 238 He stole away an Irishman's bride, and took a French leave of me and his master. 1772 Town & Country Mag. 33 She..left Fanny with French leave. 1775 J. Jekyll Corr. (1894) 28 [French etiquettes] are precise to a degree..I will allow that..taking French leave (which gains ground even among us at present) is easy and natural. But, on the contrary..there is more formality..in entering one assembly here [France] than in taking the round of routs for a whole winter in London. 1775 J. Trusler Chesterfield's Princ. Politeness (ed. 4) 72 As the taking what is called a French leave was introduced that on one person's leaving the company the rest might not be disturbed, looking at your watch does what that piece of politeness was designed to prevent. 1821 W. Gifford in Smiles J. Murray (1891) II. xxi. 55 The few teeth I have seem taking their leave—I wish they would take a French one. 1866 Mrs. H. Wood St. Martin's Eve xiii, Her roving son had taken French leave to go back to London. |