This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On December 15, 2012, the Nation newspaper featured an imaginative headline: 'Michel takes French leave.'
The term 'French leave' is an idiom that refers to an absence without official permission, commonly known as AWOL in the disciplined services.
But what's behind this phrase? The answer lies in the centuries-long rivalry between England and France.
During this period, the two nations engaged in mutual denigration, with each trying to outdo the other in insults.
As a result, the English referred to an unauthorized absence as 'French leave,' implying that only a French person could be capable of such a sin.
However, the French had a different term for this phenomenon: 'conge a l'Anglais,' or 'English leave.'
The word 'leave' itself has two main related senses: permission and freedom.
So, the next time you hear someone say 'French leave,' remember the complex history behind this phrase.
— Philip Ochieng, a veteran journalist, explores the origins of 'French leave' in this thought-provoking article.
