French leave
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Wikipedia.
Related to French leave: French kiss
French leave
n.
An informal, unannounced, or abrupt departure.
[From the 18th-century French custom of leaving without saying goodbye to the host or hostess.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
French leave
n
an unauthorized or unannounced absence or departure
[C18: alluding to a custom in France of leaving without saying goodbye to one's host or hostess]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
French′ leave′
n.
a departure without ceremony, permission, or notice: Taking French leave, he evaded his creditors.
[1765–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
French leave
- Comes from the French custom of leaving a ball or dinner without saying goodbye to the host or hostess.See also related terms for host.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | French leave - an abrupt and unannounced departure (without saying farewell) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
French leave
n to take French leave → filarsela all'ingleseCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995