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Nov 16, 2016 · MEANING. an unauthorised or unannounced absence or departure. ORIGIN. The earliest (and most curious) instance of the expression that I could find is in the anonymous novel Benedicta (1741). The heroine is about to get married:
French leave definition: a departure without saying goodbye, asking permission, or giving notice. See examples of FRENCH LEAVE used in a sentence.
The phrase take French leave refers to the act of leaving a location or event without permission. The origin of ‘take a French leave’. The first record of this idiom dates back to 1771. It appeared in the English language at a point when the English and French cultures were profoundly linked.
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.
What does the noun French leave mean? There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun French leave . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
What does the saying 'French leave' mean? Idiom: French leave. Meaning: To take French leave is to leave a gathering without saying goodbye or without permission. Country: International English | Subject Area: Nationality or ethnicity | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used. Contributor: Guerric Haché.
French leave definition, a departure without saying goodbye, asking permission, or giving notice: During the Civil War, many men deserted or took French leave.Early in the wedding reception I had to take French leave to address a family crisis. See more.
