The idiom 'French leave' refers to any absence (from work, service, such like) without official permission. But why does English refer to such an absence as ‘French leave’? Thus, to the English jingo, only a French person is capable of sin as mortal as that. AdvertisementSo, in French, the habit of vanishing into thin air is called conge a l’Anglais (‘English leave’). But take my advice: When in England, never do it like the French and, when in France, never do it like the English – or you may pay extremely heavily for it.

Source: Daily Nation July 17, 2020 14:15 UTC