Why do the English say "take a French leave" and the French say "take an English leave" expressing the same idea?

TabbyTom

According to several standard reference works, the English phrase arose in the eighteenth century. It was the custom then in France to leave a party or a reception without formally saying goodbye to one’s host or hostess. This was not usual in England. Maurice Rat’s “Dictionnaire des locutions françaises” says that the French phrase “filer à l’anglaise” refers to “le sans-gêne des Anglais” (the free and easy ways of the English). Dec 20 05, 1:53 PM

Flem-ish

In the same spirit of "entente cordiale" the French tend to use the term capote or redingote "anglaise" for what in English is called a "French" letter. Dec 20 05, 5:00 PM

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